12. He therefore said, “A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive for himself a reign and to return.
13. “And calling ten of his servants, He gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Trade until I come.’
14. “But his subjects were hating him, and sent a delegation after him, to say, ‘We do not wish this one to reign over us.’
15. “And it came to be, when he came back, having received the reign, that he sent for these servants to whom he had given the silver, in order to know what each had gained by trading.
16. “And the first came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’
17. “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant. Because you were trustworthy in a small matter, have authority over ten cities.’
18. “And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’
19. “And he said to him also, ‘And you – be over five cities.’
20. “And another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept laid up in a handkerchief.
21. ‘For I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.’