Luke 19:11–27

¹¹As they were hearing these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately be manifested.

¹²He said therefore: a certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.

¹³And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds and said to them: Trade till I come.

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

¹⁵And it came to pass that he returned, having received the kingdom: and he commanded his servants to be called, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading,

¹⁶And the first came saying: Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

¹⁷And he said to him: Well done, thou good servant, because thou hast been faithful in a little, thou shalt have power over ten cities.

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

¹⁹And he said to him: Be thou also over five cities.

²⁰And another came, saying: Lord, behold here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin.

²¹For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up what thou didst not lay down: and thou reapest that which thou didst not sow.

²²He saith to him: Out of thy own mouth I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up what I laid not down and reaping that which I did not sow.

²³And why then didst thou not give my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have exacted it with usury?

²⁴And he said to them that stood by: Take the pound away from him and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

²⁵And they said to him: Lord, he hath ten pounds.

²⁶But I say to you that to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: and from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken from him.

²⁷But as for those my enemies, who would not have me reign over them, bring them hither and kill them before me.