25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
25:2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
25:3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;
25:4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
25:5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
25:6 But at midnight there was a cry, `Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
25:7 Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps.
25:8 And the foolish said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
25:9 But the wise replied, `Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'
25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut.
25:11 Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.'
25:12 But he replied, `Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
25:13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
25:14 "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property;
25:15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
25:16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more.
25:17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more.
25:18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
25:19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
25:20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
25:21 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
25:22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'
25:23 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
25:24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow;
25:25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
25:26 But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed?
25:27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
25:28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
25:29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
25:30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
25:31 "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
25:32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
25:33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
25:34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
25:35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
25:36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
25:37 Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?
25:38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?
25:39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'
25:40 And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'
25:41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
25:42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
25:43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
25:44 Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?'
25:45 Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.'
25:46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
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