- 1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.
- 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
- 3Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,
- 4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
- 5Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
- 6But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’
- 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
- 8The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
- 9But 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.’
- 10While 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.
- 11Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’
- 12But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
- 13Watch 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.
- 15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
- 16Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
- 17In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.
- 18But 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.
- 20He 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.
- 25I 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.
- 27You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
- 28Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
- 29For 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.
- 30Throw 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.
- 32Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
- 33He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
- 34Then 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;
- 35for 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.
- 36I 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?
- 38When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?
- 39When 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.’
- 41Then 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;
- 42for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;
- 43I 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.’
- 46These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”