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

¹¹ And as they listened to these things, He proceeded and spake a parable; because He was nigh to Jerusalem, and they thought that the kingdom of God would immediately be manifested.

¹² He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a distant country to receive the investiture of a kingdom and then to return. ¹³ And he called ten of his servants, and delivered to them ten pounds, and said, Trade with them till I come.

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

¹⁵ And when he was returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to be called to him, to whom he had delivered the money, that he might know what use each had made of it. ¹⁶ Then came the first and said, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

¹⁷ And he said to him, Well done, thou good servant, as thou hast been faithful in a very little, thou shalt be governor over ten cities.

¹⁸ And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath produced five pounds:

¹⁹ and he said to this likewise, Be thou also over five cities.

²⁰ And another came, and said, Behold, my Lord, thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: ²¹ for I was afraid of thee, because thou art an austere man, who takest up what thou didst not lay down, and reapest what thou didst not sow.

²² But he said to him, Out of thy own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant, Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping what I did not sow; ²³ and why then didst thou not put my money into the bank, that when I came I might have received it with interest? ²⁴ And he said to them that stood by, Take away the pound from him, and give it to him that hath the ten pounds.

²⁵ (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds already:)

²⁶ for I tell you, that to every one that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even what he seemingly hath shall be taken away. ²⁷ But those mine enemies, who would not have me to reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.