1 “ Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.

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

3 T hose who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,

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

5 N ow while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

6 B ut at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’

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

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

9 B ut 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 W hile 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 A fterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’

12 B ut he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

13 W atch 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 T o 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 I mmediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

17 I n the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.

18 B ut 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 reconciled accounts with them.

20 H e 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 Y ou ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.

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

29 F or 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 T hrow 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 B efore 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 H e will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 T hen 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 f or 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 W hen did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?

39 W hen 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 T hen 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 f or 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 T hese will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”