Then the servant who had got the twelve hundred pounds came forward, bringing twelve hundred more; he said, 'You handed me twelve hundred pounds, sir; here I have gained another twelve hundred.'

to one he gave twelve hundred pounds, to another five hundred, and to another two hundred and fifty; each got according to his capacity. Then the man went abroad.

Then the servant with the five hundred pounds came forward. He said, 'You handed me five hundred pounds, sir; here I have gained another five hundred.'

The servant who had got the twelve hundred pounds went at once and traded with them, making another twelve hundred.

Similarly the servant who had got the five hundred pounds made another five hundred.

Take therefore the two hundred and fifty pounds away from him, give it to the servant who had the twelve hundred.

Everyone who has left brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands or houses for my name's sake will get a hundred times as much and inherit life eternal.

But the servant who had got the two hundred and fifty pounds went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

Then the servant who had got the two hundred and fifty pounds came forward. He said, 'I knew you were a hard man, sir, reaping where you never sowed and gathering where you never winnowed.

So I was afraid; I went and hid your two hundred and fifty pounds in the earth. There's your money!'

Tell me, if a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, will he not leave the ninety-nine sheep on the hills and go in search of the one that has strayed?