14 For {it is} as {if} a man going away out of a country called his own bondmen and delivered to them his substance.
15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to each according to his particular ability, and immediately went away out of the country.
16 And he that had received the five talents went and trafficked with them, and made five other talents.
17 In like manner also he that {had received} the two, {he also} gained two others.
18 But he that had received the one went and dug in the earth, and hid the money of his lord.
19 And after a long time the lord of those bondmen comes and reckons with them.
20 And he that had received the five talents came to {him} and brought five other talents, saying, {My} lord, thou deliveredst me five talents; behold, I have gained five other talents besides them.
21 His lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman, thou wast faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter into the joy of thy lord.
22 And he also that had received the two talents came to {him} and said, {My} lord, thou deliveredst me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents besides them.
23 His lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman, thou wast faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 And he also that had received the one talent coming to {him} said, {My} lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hadst not sowed, and gathering from where thou hadst not scattered,
25 and being afraid I went away and hid thy talent in the earth; behold, thou hast that which is thine.
26 And his lord answering said to him, Wicked and slothful bondman, thou knewest that I reap where I had not sowed, and gather from where I had not scattered;
27 thou oughtest then to have put my money to the money-changers, and when I came I should have got what is mine with interest.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that has the ten talents:
29 for to every one that has shall be given, and he shall be in abundance; but from him that has not, that even which he has shall be taken from him.
30 And cast out the useless bondman into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.