In AV 'ability' is either material (Le 27:8; Ezr 2:69; Ac 11:29) or personal (Da 1:4; Mt 25:15) capacity. The mod. meaning ('mental power') is not found in AV.
'But if he is poorer than your valuation, then he shall be placed before the priest and the priest shall value him; according to the means of the one who vowed, the priest shall value him.
According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work 61,000 gold drachmas and 5,000 silver minas and 100 priestly garments.
youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king's court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
"To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.