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"While
they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable,
because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the
kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: 'A man of
noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed
king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave
them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come
back.'
But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say,
'We don't want this man to be our king.'
He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the
servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what
they had gained with it.
The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'
'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you
have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten
cities.'
'The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.'
'His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'
'Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I
have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you,
because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in
and reap what you did not sow.'
'His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you
wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking
out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why
then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back,
I could have collected it with interest?'
'then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him
and give it to the one who has ten minas.'
'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!' He replied, 'I tell you
that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one
who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those
enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them- bring
them here and kill them in front of me.’ ”
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