1 ¶ Then shall the kingdom of the heavens be likened unto ten virgins who, taking their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2 A nd five of them were prudent, and five were foolish.

3 T hose that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them;

4 b ut the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 W hile the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 A nd at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go ye out to meet him.

7 T hen all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

8 A nd the foolish said unto the prudent, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out.

9 B ut the prudent answered, saying, Lest there be not enough for us and you, but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves.

10 A nd while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and those that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.

11 A fterward the other virgins also came, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 B ut he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13 W atch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes.

14 ¶ For it is like a man travelling into a far country, who called his own slaves and delivered unto them his goods.

15 A nd unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each one according to his faculty, and straightway took his journey.

16 A nd after he was gone, he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same and made another five talents.

17 A nd likewise he that had received two, he also gained another two.

18 B ut he that had received one went and dug in the earth and hid his lord’s money.

19 A nd after a long time the lord of those slaves came and reckoned accounts with them.

20 A nd so he that had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, Lord, thou didst deliver unto me five talents; behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21 H is lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful slave; thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22 H e also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou didst deliver unto me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23 H is lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful slave; thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24 T hen he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast not scattered;

25 t herefore, I was afraid and went and hid thy talent in the earth; behold, thou hast what is thine.

26 H is lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful slave, thou knewest that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I have not scattered;

27 t herefore, it was expedient for thee to have put my money to the bankers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with interest.

28 T ake, therefore, the talent from him and give it unto him who has ten talents.

29 F or unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance, but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has.

30 A nd cast ye the unprofitable slave into the outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

31 ¶ When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he shall sit upon the throne of his glory,

32 a nd before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats,

33 a nd he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 T hen shall the King say unto those on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;

35 f or I was hungry, and ye gave me food; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in;

36 n aked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 T hen shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee? or thirsty and give thee drink?

38 W hen did we see thee a stranger and take thee in? or naked and clothe thee?

39 O r when did we see thee sick or in prison and come unto thee?

40 A nd the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brothers, ye have done it unto me.

41 T hen he shall also say unto those who shall be on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels;

42 f or I was hungry, and ye gave me no food; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink;

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 T hen they shall also answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister unto thee?

45 T hen he shall answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of my brothers, ye did it not to me.

46 A nd they shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.