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While they were listening to this, Yeshua went on to tell a parable, because he was near Yerushalayim, and the people supposed that the Kingdom of God was about to appear at any moment.
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Therefore he said, "A nobleman went to a country far away to have himself crowned king and then return.
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Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten manim [a maneh is about three months' wages] and said to them, `Do business with this while I'm away.'
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But his countrymen hated him, and they sent a delegation after him to say, `We don't want this man to rule over us.'
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"However, he returned, having been made king, and sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what each one had earned in his business dealings.
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The first one came in and said, `Sir, your maneh has earned ten more manim.'
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`Excellent!' he said to him. `You are a good servant. Because you have been trustworthy in a small matter, I am putting you in charge of ten towns.'
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The second one came and said, `Sir, your maneh has earned five more manim;
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and to this one he said, `You be in charge of five towns.'
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"Then another one came and said, `Sir, here is your maneh. I kept it hidden in a piece of cloth,
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because I was afraid of you -- you take out what you didn't put in, and you harvest what you didn't plant.'
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To him the master said, `You wicked servant! I will judge you by your own words! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, taking out what I didn't put in and harvesting what I didn't plant?
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Then why didn't you put my money in the bank? Then, when I returned, I would have gotten it back with interest!'
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To those standing by, he said, `Take the maneh from him and give it to the one with ten manim.'
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They said to him, `Sir, he already has ten manim!'
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But the master answered, `I tell you, everyone who has something will be given more; but from anyone who has nothing, even what he does have will be taken away.
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However, as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and execute them in my presence!'"