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Matthew 24:14-30 NIV
14 "Again, it will be like a
man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his
property to them.
15 To one he gave five talents
of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each
according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
16 The man who had received the
five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five
more.
17 So also, the one with the
two talents gained two more.
18 But the man who had received
the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his
master's money.
19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned
and settled accounts with them.
20 The man who had received the
five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you
entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge
of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22 "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said,
'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge
of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came.
'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where
you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 So I was afraid and went out
and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to
you.'
26 "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew
that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not
scattered seed?
27 Well then, you should have
put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I
would have received it back with interest.
28 " 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has
the ten talents.
29 For everyone who has will be
given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have,
even what he has will be taken from him.
30 And throw that worthless
servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.' |
