11 While they were listening to thesethings, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because1He was nearJerusalem, and they supposed that 2the kingdom of God was going to appearimmediately.
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So He said, "3A nobleman*went to a distantcountry to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.
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"And he calledten of his slaves, and gave them tenminas and said to them, 'Dobusiness with this until* I come back.'
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"But his citizenshated him and sent a delegationafter him, saying, 'We do not wantthisman to reignover us.'
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"When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that theseslaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might knowwhatbusiness they had done.
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"The firstappeared, saying, 'Master, your mina has madetenminasmore.'
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"And he said to him, 'Welldone, goodslave, because you have been4faithful in a verylittlething, you are to be in authorityovertencities.'
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"The secondcame, saying, 'Your mina, master, has madefiveminas.'
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"And he said to him also, 'And you are to be overfivecities.'
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"Anothercame, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I keptputaway in a handkerchief;
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for I was afraid of you, because you are an exactingman; you take up what you did not laydown and reapwhat you did not sow.'