Chapter LXI

PARABLE OF THE TALENTS--JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS.

For _the kingdom of heaven is_ as a man travelling into a far
country, _who_ called his own servants, and delivered unto
them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another,
two, and to another, one; to every man according to his
several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Then he that had received the five talents went and traded
with the same, and made _them_ other five talents. And
likewise he that _had received_ two, he also gained other two.
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and
hid his lord's money.

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and
reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents
came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou
deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside
them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done,
_thou_ good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over
a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter
thou into the joy of thy lord.

He that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou
deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two
other talents besides them. His lord said unto him, Well done,
good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few
things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou
into the joy of thy lord.

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord,
I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou
hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed: and
I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo,
_there_ thou hast _that is_ thine.

His lord answered and said unto him, _Thou_ wicked and
slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not,
and gather where I have not strewed: Thou oughtest therefore
to have put my money to the exchangers, and _then_ at my
coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take
therefore the talent from him, and give _it_ unto him which
hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given,
and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall
be taken away even that which he hath.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy
angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his
glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he
shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth
_his_ sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his
right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye
blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and
ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a
stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was
sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we
thee an hungered, and fed _thee_? or thirsty, and gave _thee_
drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took _thee_ in? or,
naked, and clothed _thee_? Or when saw we thee sick, or in
prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto
you, Inasmuch as ye have done _it_ unto one of the least of
these my brethren, ye have done _it_ unto me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from
me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil
and his angels: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat:
I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and
ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in
prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we
thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or
sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye did _it_ not to one of the least of these, ye
did _it_ not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting
punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,

Ye know that after two days is _the feast of_ the Passover,
and of unleavened bread: and the Son of man is betrayed to be
crucified.