12 So he said, “There was once a man of high rank who was going to a country far away to be made king, after which he planned to come back home.
13 Before he left, he called his ten servants and gave them each a gold coin and told them, ‘See what you can earn with this while I am gone.’
14 Now, his own people hated him, and so they sent messengers after him to say, ‘We don't want this man to be our king.’
15 “The man was made king and came back. At once he ordered his servants to appear before him, in order to find out how much they had earned.
16 The first one came and said, ‘Sir, I have earned ten gold coins with the one you gave me.’
17 ‘Well done,’ he said; ‘you are a good servant! Since you were faithful in small matters, I will put you in charge of ten cities.’
18 The second servant came and said, ‘Sir, I have earned five gold coins with the one you gave me.’