"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey,
who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five
talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each
according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received
the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.
So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had
received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's
money.
"After a long time the master of those servants
returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five
talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five
talents. See, I have gained five more.'
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful
servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of
many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,'
he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful
servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of
many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"Then the man who had received the one talent came.
'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have
not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and
went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So
you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not
scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the
bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
"'Take the talent from him and give it to the one
who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will
have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from
him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'”
reference:
- http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/parable-of-the-talents-faq.htm
- http://www.sermons4kids.com/parable_talents_abda.gif