Luke 19:11-27 - The Parable Of The Ten Minas

¹¹ He went on to tell a parable in their hearing, as he was approaching Jerusalem and as they imagined God's Reign would instantly come into view.

¹² "A nobleman," he said, "went abroad to obtain royal power for himself and then return. ¹³ He first called his ten servants, giving them each a five-pound note, and telling them, 'Trade with this till I come back.'

¹⁴ Now his people hated him and sent envoys after him to say, 'We object to him having royal power over us.'

¹⁵ However he secured the royal power and came home. Then he ordered the servants to be called who had been given the money, that he might find out what business they had done. ¹⁶ The first came up saying, 'Your five pounds has made other fifty, sir.'

¹⁷ 'Capital,' he said, 'you excellent servant! because you have proved trustworthy in a trifle, you are placed over ten towns.'

¹⁸ Then the second came and said, 'Your five pounds has made twenty-five, sir.'

¹⁹ To him he said, 'And you are set over five towns.'

²⁰ Then the next came and said, 'Here is your five pounds, sir; I kept it safe in a napkin, ²¹ for I was afraid of you, you are such a hard man ??picking up what you never put down, and reaping what you never sowed.'

²² He replied, 'You rascal of a servant, I will convict you by what you have said yourself. You knew, did you, that I was a hard man, picking up what I never put down, and reaping what I never sowed! ²³ Why then did you not put my money into the bank, so that I could have got it with interest when I came back?' ²⁴ Then he said to the bystanders, 'Take the five pounds from him and give it to the man with fifty.'

²⁵ 'Sir,' they said, 'he has fifty already!'

²⁶ 'I tell you, to everyone who has shall more be given, but from him who has nothing, even what he has shall be taken. ²⁷ And now for these enemies of mine who objected to me reigning over them ??bring them here and slay them in my presence.' "