Thematic Bible: The parable of the pounds


Thematic Bible



He said therefore, A certain man of noble family went into a distant region, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten manehs, and said unto them, Employ yourselves in traffic, till I come back. But his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, We will not have this man to rule over us. read more.
And it came to pass, at his return, after receiving the kingdom, that he ordered the servants to be called, to whom he had given the money, that he might know what every one had gained by his traffic. Then came the first, and said, Sir, thy maneh has gained ten manehs. And he said unto him, Well done, good servant: because thou hast been faithful in the least matter, hold thou dominion over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy maneh hath gained five manehs. Then said he also to this man, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Master, there is thy maneh, which I have kept wrapt up in a napkin: for I was afraid of thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up where thou hadst laid nothing down, and reapest where thou didst not sow. And he said to him, Out of thine 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; why then gavest thou not my money to the bank, so when I came I might have required it with interest? And he said to those who stood by, Take from him the maneh, and give it to him who hath the ten manehs. (And they say unto him, Sir, he hath ten manehs.) For I say unto you, That to every one who hath, shall more be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him. But as for these enemies of mine, who would not that I should reign over them, bring them hither, and slay them before me.

For the case is like that of a man, who travelling abroad, called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his several capacity; and immediately went abroad. He then who had received the five talents, went and traded with them, and acquired five other talents. read more.
In the same manner also he that had the two, gained also himself two others. But he that had received the one talent, went and digged a hole in the ground, and hid the silver of his master. Then after a long absence the master of these servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. And he who had received the five talents, coming to him, brought five other talents, saying, Sir, thou deliveredst to me five talents: I have gained to them five other talents. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many: enter into the joy of thy master. Then came also he that had received the two talents: and said, Sir, thou deliveredst to me two talents: lo! I have gained to them two other talents. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many: enter thou into thy master's joy. Then came also he that had received the one talent, and said, Sir, knowing thee, that thou art a severe man, reaping where thou hast not sowed, and gathering from whence thou hast not scattered: and being afraid, I went and hid thy talent in the ground: see here, thou hast thine own. Then his master answering said to him, Thou wicked and idle slave, thou knewest that I reap whence I had not sown, and gather where I had not scattered: thou oughtest then to have placed my money with the bankers, so when I came I should have received my own with interest. Take therefore from him the talent, and give it to him that hath the ten talents.