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.*1
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
marriage 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 like manner he
also who got the two gained another two. 18 But he who received the one
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 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.’
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 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 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, inasmuch as
you did it to one of the least of these my brothers*2 , 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, inasmuch
as 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.”
1 The end of the wick of an oil
lamp needs to be cut off periodically to avoid having it become clogged
with carbon deposits. The wick height is also adjusted so that the flame
burns evenly and gives good light without producing a lot of smoke.
2 The word for
“brothers” here may be also correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or
“siblings.”
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