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He said therefore, 1"A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.
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Calling 2ten of his servants,[a] he gave them ten minas,[b] and said to them, 'Engage in business 3until I come.'
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But 4his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'
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When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.
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The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.'
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And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant![c] Because you have been 5faithful in a very little, 6you shall have authority over ten cities.'
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And the second came, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made five minas.'
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And he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.'
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Then another came, saying, 'Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in 7a handkerchief;
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for I was afraid of you, because you are 8a severe man. You take 9what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'
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He said to him, 10'I will condemn you with your own words, 11you wicked servant! You knew that I was 12a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?
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Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?'
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And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.'
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And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas!'
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'I tell you that 13to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
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But 14as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and 15slaughter them before me.'"