1 “ Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2 F ive of them were foolish, and five were prudent.

Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.

3 F or when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

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

but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.

5 N ow while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.

Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.

6 B ut at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

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

Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

8 T he foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

9 B ut the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

10 A nd while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.

And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.

11 L ater the other virgins also came, saying, ‘ Lord, lord, open up for us.’

Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘ Lord, lord, open up for us.’

12 B ut he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’

But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 B e on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. Parable of the Talents

Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. Parable of the Talents

14 “ For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.

“ For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.

15 T o one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.

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.

16 I mmediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.

Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.

17 I n the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.

In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.

18 B ut he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “ Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.

“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.

20 T he one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’

The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’

21 H is master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

22 “ Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’

“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’

23 H is master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

24 “ And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.

“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.

25 A nd I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

26 “ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.

“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.

27 T hen you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.

Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.

28 T herefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

29 “ For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

“ For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

30 T hrow out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The Judgment

Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The Judgment

31 “ But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

32 A ll the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

33 a nd He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.

and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.

34 “ Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35 F or I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;

For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;

36 n aked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

37 T hen the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?

Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?

38 A nd when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?

And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?

39 W hen did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

40 T he King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

41 “ Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘ Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;

“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘ Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;

42 f or I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;

for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;

43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’

I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’

44 T hen they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’

Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’

45 T hen He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

46 T hese will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”