Luke 19:11-28

11And as they heard these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said to them, Occupy till I come.1 14But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15And it came to pass, that when he had returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.2 16Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17And he said to him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up what thou didst not lay down, and reapest what thou didst not sow. 22And he saith to him, Out of thy own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping what I did not sow: 23Why then gavest thou not my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required my own with interest?3 24And he said to them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25(And they said to him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26For I say to you, That to every one who hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even what he hath shall be taken away from him. 27But those my enemies, who would not that I should reign over them, bring here, and slay them before me.

28And when he had thus spoken, he went before, going up to Jerusalem.