¹ Og Herrens ord kom til mig, og det lød så:

² Menneskesønn! Hvad har veden av vintreet forut for annen ved, det vintreskudd som er vokset op blandt skogens trær?

³ Tar en vel ved av det for å bruke den til noget arbeid? Eller gjør nogen en nagle av den til å henge noget redskap på?

⁴ Nei, en gir ilden den til føde; ilden fortærer begge endene, og midten blir forbrent; duer den vel da til å gjøre noget arbeid med?

⁵ Mens den ennu var hel, bruktes den ikke til noget arbeid; hvor meget mindre når ilden har fortært den, og den er forbrent! Kan den enda brukes til å gjøre noget arbeid med?

⁶ Derfor sier Herren, Israels Gud, så: Som det går med veden av vintreet blandt skogens trær, den som jeg gir ilden til føde, således gjør jeg med Jerusalems innbyggere.

⁷ Jeg vil sette mitt åsyn imot dem; de har sloppet ut av ilden, men ilden skal fortære dem, og I skal kjenne at jeg er Herren, når jeg setter mitt åsyn imot dem.

⁸ Og jeg vil gjøre landet til en ørken, fordi de har gjort sig skyldige i troløshet, sier Herren, Israels Gud.

¹ Gled dig ikke, Israel, og juble ikke, likesom folkene! For du har forlatt din Gud i hor; du har elsket horelønn på hvert sted hvor kornet treskes.

¹⁴ "For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them.

¹⁵ To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.

¹⁶ Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

¹⁷ In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.

¹⁸ But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

¹⁹ "Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.

²⁰ He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.'

²¹ "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

²² "He also who got the two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.'

²³ "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

²⁴ "He also who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.

²⁵ I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.'

²⁶ "But his lord answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn't sow, and gather where I didn't scatter.

²⁷ You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.

²⁸ Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.

²⁹ For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn't have, even that which he has will be taken away.

³⁰ Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'