Chapter 25

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

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  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  

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  Those who were 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 delayed, they all slumbered and slept.  

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  But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!'  

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  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  

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  The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'  

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  But the wise answered, saying, 'What if there will not be enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'  

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  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.  

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

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  But he answered, 'Most assuredly I tell you, I don't know you.'  

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  Watch therefore, for you don't know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.  

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  'For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and delivered his goods to them.  

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  To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability, and he went on his journey.  

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  Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.  

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  In like manner he also who got the two gained another two.  

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

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  Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.  

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  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.'  

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  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.'  

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  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.'  

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  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.'  

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  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.  

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  I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have your own.'  

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  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.  

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  You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.  

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

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  For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken away.  

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  Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.'  

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  'But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then will he sit on the throne of his glory.  

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  Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  

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  He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  

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  Then the King will tell them on his right hand, 'Come, 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 you gave me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in;  

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  naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.'  

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  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?  

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  When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?  

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  When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'  

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  The King will answer them, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'  

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  Then will he say also to them on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;  

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  for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;  

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  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.'  

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  Then will they also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not help you?'  

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  Then will he answer them, saying, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of these least, you didn't do it to me.'  

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  These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.'  

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