Mat 25:14-30 | ESV | STEP | For it will be like a man going on a journey , who called his servants and entrusted to them his property .

14 ^a“For ^bit will be like a man ^cgoing on a journey, who called his servants ^{▼▼Greek bondservants; also verse 19} and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five ^etalents, ^{▼▼A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer} to another two, to another one, ^gto each according to his ability. Then he ^hwent away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and ⁱdug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now ^jafter a long time the master of those servants came and ^ksettled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and ^lfaithful servant. ^{▼▼Greek bondservant; also verses 23, 26, 30} ⁿYou have been faithful over a little; ^oI will set you over much. Enter into ^pthe joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be ^qa hard man, reaping ^rwhere you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, ^syou have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You ^twicked and ^uslothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 ^vFor to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And ^wcast ^xthe worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place ^ythere will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’