Matthew 25:14-40

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. 15To one he gave five 34talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he 5went on his journey. 16The one who had received the five 6talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents. 17In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more. 18But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his 7master’s money.

19“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and 8settled accounts with them. 20The one who had received the five 9talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have earned five more talents.’ 21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and 10faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will 11put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your 12master.’

22“Also the one who had received the two 13talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have earned two more talents.’ 23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and 14faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’

24“Now the one who had received the one 15talent also came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed. 25And I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you still have what is yours.’

26“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You 16worthless, lazy slave! Did you know that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter seed? 27Then you ought to have 17put my money in the bank, and 18on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28Therefore: take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

29“19For 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. 30And throw the worthless slave into 20the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

31“But when 21the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then 22He will sit on His glorious throne. 32And all the nations will be 23gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, 24just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33and He will put the sheep 25on His right, but the goats 26on the left.

34“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, 27inherit the kingdom prepared for you 28from the foundation of the world. 35For 29I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; 30I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 3631naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you 32visited Me; 33I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40And 34the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, 35to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’