25:1 "Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.
25:2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
25:3 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,
25:4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
25:5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
25:6 But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!'
25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
25:8 The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
25:9 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.'
25:10 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.
25:11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.'
25:12 But he answered, 'Most assuredly I tell you, I don't know you.'
25:13 Watch therefore, for you don't know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
25:14 "For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them.
25:15 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.
25:16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
25:17 In like manner he also who got the two gained another two.
25:18 But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
25:19 "Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.
25:20 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.'
25:21 "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.'
25:22 "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.'
25:23 "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.'
25:24 "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.
25:25 I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.'
25:26 "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.
25:27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
25:28 Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
25:29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken away.
25:30 Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
25:31 "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.
25:32 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.
25:33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
25:34 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;
25:35 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;
25:36 naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.'
25:37 "Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?
25:38 When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?
25:39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'
25:40 "The King will answer them, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers{The word for "brothers" here may be also correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}, you did it to me.'
25:41 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;
25:42 for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;
25:43 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.'
25:44 "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?'
25:45 "Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me.'
25:46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Created with FREE HTMLCompiler by BibleDatabase