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 wedding
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 talent
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 settled 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
in addition to 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 in addition to 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 didn’t sow, and gathering where you
didn’t 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, because 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, because 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.”
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