14. “For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them.
15. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
16. The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more.
17. In the same way, the one who had two gained two more.
18. But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it.
19. After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them.
20. The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
21. His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22. The one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’
23. His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24. Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed,