Chapter 25

  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  

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  And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  

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

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  but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  

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  Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  

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  But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.  

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  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  

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  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.  

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  But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  

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  And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut.  

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  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  

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  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.  

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  Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.  

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  For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.  

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  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.  

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  Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents.  

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  In like manner he also that [received] the two gained other two.  

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  But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.  

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  Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them.  

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  And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents.  

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  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  

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  And he also that [received] the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents.  

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  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  

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  And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter;  

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  and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own.  

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  But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter;  

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  thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest.  

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  Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents.  

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  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.  

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  And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.  

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  But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:  

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  and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats;  

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  and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  

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  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  

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  for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in;  

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  naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  

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  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink?  

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  And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  

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  And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  

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  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, [even] these least, ye did it unto me.  

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  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:  

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  for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink;  

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  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  

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  Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  

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  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me.  

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  And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.  

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