12
He saidtherefore,A certainnobleman*wentinto a farcountry to receive for himself a kingdom,and to return.
13
And he calledhistenservants, and deliveredthemtenpounds,[a]andsaiduntothem,Occupytill I come.
14
Buthiscitizenshatedhim,andsent a messageafterhim,saying, We willnothavethis man to reignoverus.
15
And it came to pass, that whenhe was returned, having received the kingdom,then he commandedtheseservants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money,[b]that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16
Thencame the first,saying, Lord,thypound hath gainedtenpounds.
17
And he said unto him,Well, thou goodservant:because thou hast beenfaithfulin a very little,have thou authority*overtencities.
18
And the secondcame, saying, Lord,thypound hath gainedfivepounds.
19
And he saidlikewise to him,Bethoualsooverfivecities.
20
Andanothercame, saying, Lord,behold, here is thypound,which I have kept laid upin a napkin:
21
For I fearedthee,because thou art an austereman: thou takest upthat thou layedstnotdown, andreapestthat thou didstnotsow.
22
And he saith unto him, Out of thine ownmouth will I judgethee, thou wickedservant. Thou knewestthatIwas an austereman, taking upthat I laidnotdown, andreapingthat I didnotsow:
23
Whereforethengavestnotthoumymoneyinto the bank,that at my comingImight have required mine ownwithusury?
24
And he said unto them that stood by, Takefromhim the pound,andgive it to him that hathtenpounds.
25
(And they said unto him,Lord, he hathten pounds.)
26
For I say unto you,That unto every onewhichhath shall be given; andfrom him that hathnot,eventhat he hath shall be taken awayfromhim.
27
Butthosemineenemies,whichwouldnot that I should reignoverthem,bringhither,andslay them beforeme.
28
And when he had thusspoken, he wentbefore, ascending uptoJerusalem.
29
And it came to pass, when he was come nightoBethphageandBethany,at the mountcalled the mount of Olives, he senttwo of hisdisciples,
30
Saying, Go yeinto the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colttied, whereonyetnevermansat*: loosehim, and bring him hither.
31
Andif any manaskyou,Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him,Because the Lordhathneed of him.
32
And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
[a].
pounds: mina, here translated a pound, is twelve ounces and an half: which according to five shillings the ounce is three pounds two shillings and sixpence