"For the kingdom of God is as a man going abroad, who called his own servants and delivered to them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and he went abroad. Immediately he that received the five talents went and traded with them and gained five more talents. Likewise he also that received the two gained two more. But he that received the one went away and dug in the earth and hid his lord's money. "Now after a long time, the lord of those servants cometh and maketh a reckoning with them, and he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, 'Lord, thou didst deliver to me five talents; behold, I have gained five more talents." His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

"He also that received the two talents came and said, 'Lord, thou didst deliver to me two talents; behold, I have gained two more talents." His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

"Then he also that had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter; and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: behold, thou hast thine own." But his lord answered and said to him, 'Thou wicked and slothful servant! Thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter. Thou shouldest, therefore, have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received my own with interest. Take, therefore, the talent from him, and give it to him that hath the ten talents. For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away. And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."