| 1 | "Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. |
| 2 | Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. |
| 3 | Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, |
| 4 | but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. |
| 5 | Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. |
| 6 | But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!' |
| 7 | Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. |
| 8 | The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' |
| 9 | But the wise answered, saying, 'What if there isn't enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' |
| 10 | While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. |
| 11 | Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' |
| 12 | But he answered, 'Most certainly I tell you, I don't know you.' |
| 13 | Watch therefore, for you don't know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. |
| 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.' |
| 31 | "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. |
| 32 | Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. |
| 33 | He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. |
| 34 | Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; |
| 35 | for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. |
| 36 | I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.' |
| 37 | "Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? |
| 38 | When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? |
| 39 | When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?' |
| 40 | "The King will answer them, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' |
| 41 | Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; |
| 42 | for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; |
| 43 | I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' |
| 44 | "Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?' |
| 45 | "Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me.' |
| 46 | These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." |
