11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because 1they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
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He said therefore, 2"A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.
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Calling 3ten of his servants,[a] he gave them ten minas,[b] and said to them, 'Engage in business 4until I come.'
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But 5his 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 6faithful in a very little, 7you 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 8a handkerchief;
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for I was afraid of you, because you are 9a severe man. You take 10what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'
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He said to him, 11'I will condemn you with your own words, 12you wicked servant! You knew that I was 13a 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 14to 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 15as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and 16slaughter them before me.'"