₁₄“At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there was a man who was about to go on a journey; he called his servants and put them in charge of his property. ₁₅He gave to each one according to his ability: to one he gave 5,000 gold coins, to another he gave 2,000, and to another he gave 1,000. Then he left on his journey. ₁₆The servant who had received 5,000 coins went at once and invested his money and earned another 5,000. ₁₇In the same way the servant who had received 2,000 coins earned another 2,000. ₁₈But the servant who had received 1,000 coins went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.

₁₉“After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. ₂₀The servant who had received 5,000 coins came in and handed over the other 5,000. ‘You gave me 5,000 coins, sir,’ he said. ‘Look! Here are another 5,000 that I have earned.’ ₂₁‘Well done, you good and faithful servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!’

₂₂“Then the servant who had been given 2,000 coins came in and said, ‘You gave me 2,000 coins, sir. Look! Here are another 2,000 that I have earned.’ ₂₃‘Well done, you good and faithful servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!’

₂₄“Then the servant who had received 1,000 coins came in and said, ‘Sir, I know you are a hard man; you reap harvests where you did not sow, and you gather crops where you did not scatter seed. ₂₅I was afraid, so I went off and hid your money in the ground. Look! Here is what belongs to you.’

₂₆“ ‘You bad and lazy servant!’ his master said. ‘You knew, did you, that I reap harvests where I did not sow, and gather crops where I did not scatter seed? ₂₇Well, then, you should have deposited my money in the bank, and I would have received it all back with interest when I returned. ₂₈Now, take the money away from him and give it to the one who has 10,000 coins. ₂₉For to every person who has something, even more will be given, and he will have more than enough; but the person who has nothing, even the little that he has will be taken away from him. ₃₀As for this useless servant — throw him outside in the darkness; there he will cry and grind his teeth.’