12. But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'
13. Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
14. "For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
15. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
16. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.
17. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.
18. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19. "Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
20. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.'
21. His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
22. "Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.'
23. His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
24. "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.