11. As they were listening to these things, continuing on, he spoke a parable, because he was nearing Jerusalem, and because they guessed that the kingdom of God might be manifested without delay.
12. Therefore, he said: "A certain man of nobility traveled to a far away region, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13. And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds, and he said to them: 'Do business until I return.'
14. But his citizens hated him. And so they sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this one to reign over us.'
15. And it happened that he returned, having received the kingdom. And he ordered the servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called so that he would know how much each one had earned by doing business.
16. Now the first approached, saying: 'Lord, your one pound has earned ten pounds.'
17. And he said to him: 'Well done, good servant. Since you have been faithful in a small matter, you will hold authority over ten cities.'
18. And the second came, saying: 'Lord, your one pound has earned five pounds.'
19. And he said to him, 'And so, you shall be over five cities.'
20. And another approached, saying: 'Lord, behold your one pound, which I kept stored in a cloth.
21. For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.'
22. He said to him: 'By your own mouth, do I judge you, O wicked servant. You knew that I am an austere man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow.