One class were registered as cumberers of the ground. As the piercing eye of the Judge rested upon these, their sins of neglect were distinctly revealed. With pale, quivering lips they acknowledged that they had been traitors to their holy trust. They had had warnings and privileges, but they had not heeded nor improved them. They could now see that they had presumed too much upon the mercy of God. True, they had not such confessions to make as had the vile and basely corrupt; but, like the fig tree, they were cursed because they bore no fruit, because they had not put to use the talents entrusted to them. {4T 385.3}

En klasse mennesker var indført som dem, der gør jorden unyttig. Idet den guddommelige dommers, gennemtrængende blik hvilede på disse, blev deres undladelsessynder tydeligt åbenbaret. Med blege, skælvende læber indrømmede de, at de havde været forrædere i deres hellige tillidshverv. De havde fået advarsler og privilegier, men de havde ikke agtet på dem ej heller benyttet sig af dem. De kunne nu indse, at de var gået for vidt i påberåbelse af Guds miskundhed. Vel havde de ikke sådanne bekendelser at aflægge som niddinger og de dybt fordærvede; men ligesom figentræet var de under forbandelse, fordi de (386) ikke bar frugt, fordi de ikke havde gjort brug af de talenter, der blev dem betroet.