Matthew 25:14-30

Parable of the Talents

14 "¹For it is just like a man ²about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.

15 "To one he gave five ³talents, to another *, two, and to another *, one, each according to his own ability; and he ⁴went on his journey.

16 "Immediately the one who had received the five ⁵talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.

17 "In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.

18 "But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

19 "Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and ⁶settled accounts with them.

20 "The one who had received the five ⁷talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.'

21 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and ⁸faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will ⁹put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'

22 "Also the one who had received the two ¹⁰talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.'

23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and ¹¹faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'

24 "And the one also who had received the one ¹²talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.

25 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'

26 "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.

27 'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.

28 'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.'

29 "¹³For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

30 "Throw out the worthless slave into ¹⁴the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27
• 2. Matthew 21:33
• 3. Matthew 18:24; Luke 19:13
• 4. Matthew 21:33
• 5. Matthew 18:24; Luke 19:13
• 6. Matthew 18:23
• 7. Matthew 18:24; Luke 19:13
• 8. Matthew 24:45, 47; Matthew 25:23
• 9. Luke 12:44; Luke 22:29; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 21:7
• 10. Matthew 18:24; Luke 19:13
• 11. Matthew 24:45, 47; Matthew 25:21
• 12. Matthew 18:24; Luke 19:13
• 13. Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; John 15:2
• 14. Matthew 8:12; Matthew 22:13; Luke 13:28

Footnotes

• [a] A talent was worth about fifteen years' wages of a laborer
• [b] Or "lord's"
• [c] Or "lord"
• [d] Lit "to the bankers"