“If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”

1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?
Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right,
speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors,
or speak evil of their friends.
4 Those who despise flagrant sinners,
who honor the faithful followers of the Lord,
and keep their promises even when it hurts.
5 Those who lend money without charging interest,
and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.

14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He summoned his slaves and entrusted his money to them. 15 He gave five talents of silver to one, two talents to another, and one talent to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then went away. 16 The slave who received the five talents went off at once and traded with the money, and made five more. 17 The slave with two talents also went and made two more. 18 But the slave who received the one talent dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 The slave to whom he had entrusted five talents came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents; look, I have made five more.’ 21 The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and trustworthy slave. You have been trustworthy in handling a few things, so now I will put you in charge of many things. Come enter into the joy of your master!’ 22 The slave who had received the two talents came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents, and I have made two more.’ 23 The master said, ‘Well done, my good and trustworthy slave. You have been trustworthy in handling a few things, so now I will put you in charge of many things. Come enter into the joy of your master!’ 24 Then the slave who had received one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid, so I hid your money in the ground. Here, take what belongs to you.’ 26 But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I harvest crops I didn’t plant and gather crops I didn’t cultivate? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 Take the talent from this slave, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 Now throw this useless slave into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

14 「天國又好比以下的故事：有一個人要出外旅行，他叫僕人來，把產業交給他們。 15 他按照他們各人的才幹，一個給了五千塊金幣，一個給了兩千，一個給了一千，然後動身走了。 16 那領五千塊金幣的，立刻去做生意，另外賺了五千。 17 同樣，那領兩千塊金幣的，另外也賺了兩千。 18 可是那領一千塊金幣的，出去，在地上挖了一個洞，把主人的錢埋起來。 19 「過了許久，那幾個僕人的主人回來，跟他們結帳。 20 那領五千塊金幣的進來，帶來了另外的五千，說：『主人，你給我五千塊金幣，你看，我另外賺了五千。』 21 主人說：『很好，你這又好又可靠的僕人！你在小數目上可靠，我要委託你經管大數目。進來分享你主人的喜樂吧！』 22 那領兩千塊金幣的進來，說：『主人，你給我兩千塊金幣，你看，我另外賺了兩千。』 23 主人說：『很好，你這又好又可靠的僕人，你在小數目上可靠，我要委託你經管大數目。進來分享你主人的喜樂吧！』 24 這時候，那領一千塊金幣的僕人也進來，說：『主人，我知道你是個嚴厲的人；沒有栽種的地方，你要收割，沒有撒種的地方，你也要收聚。 25 我害怕，就把你的錢埋在地下。請看，你的錢就在這裏。』 26 他的主人說：『你這又壞又懶的僕人！既然你知道我在沒有栽種的地方也要收割，沒有撒種的地方也要收聚， 27 你就該把我的錢存入銀行，等我回來的時候，可以連本帶利一起收回。 28 你們把他的金幣拿過來，給那個有一萬塊金幣的。 29 因為，那已經有的，要給他更多，讓他豐富有餘；而那沒有的，連他所有的一點點也要奪走。 30 至於這個無用的僕人，把他趕到外面的黑暗裏去；在那裏，他要哀哭，咬牙切齒。』」