¹¹ As they heard these things, he added thereto a similitude, because he was nigh to Jerusalem; And because also, they thought that the kingdom of God should shortly appear.

¹² He said therefore, "A certain noble man went into a far country, to receive him a kingdom, and then to come again. ¹³ And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, saying unto them, 'Buy and sell till I come.'

¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent messengers after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.'

¹⁵ And it came to pass, when he was come again and had received his kingdom, he commanded these servants, to be called to him, to whom he gave his money, to know what every man had done. ¹⁶ Then came the first saying, 'Lord, thy pound hath increased ten pounds.'

¹⁷ And he said unto him, 'Well good servant, because thou wast faithful in a very little thing; Take thou authority over ten cities.'

¹⁸ And the other came saying, 'Lord, thy pound hath increased five pounds.'

¹⁹ And to the same he said, 'And be thou also ruler over five cities.'

²⁰ And the third came, and said, 'Lord, behold here thy pound, which I have kept in a napkin, ²¹ for I feared thee, because thou art a strait man: thou takest up that thou laidst not down; And reapest that thou didst not sow.'

²² And he said unto him, 'Of thine own mouth judge I thee, thou evil servant. Knowest thou that I am a strait man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow? ²³ Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank? That at my coming should I might have required mine own, with vantage.' ²⁴ And he said to them that stood by, 'Take from him that pound, and give it him that hath ten pounds.'

²⁵ And they said unto him, 'Lord he hath ten pounds.'

²⁶ 'I say unto you, that unto all them that have, it shall be given: and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken from him. ²⁷ Moreover, those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.'"