Chapter 25

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

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

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  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  

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

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  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  

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  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  

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  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  

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  And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil: for our lamps are gone out.  

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  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  

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  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, 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 to you, I know you not.  

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  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man cometh.  

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  For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods.  

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  And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and forthwith took his journey.  

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  Then he that had received the five talents, went and traded with the same, and gained other five talents.  

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  And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.  

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

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  After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.  

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  And he that had received five talents, came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst to me five talents: behold, I have gained besides them five talents more.  

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

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  He also that had received two talents came, and said, Lord, thou deliveredst to me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents besides them.  

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

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  Then he who had received the one talent came, and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed:  

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  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast what is thine.  

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  His lord answered and said to him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not strewed:  

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  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received my own with interest.  

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

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

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

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  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then will he sit upon the throne of his glory:  

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  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  

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

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  Then will the King say to 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 food: 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 to me.  

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

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

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  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came to thee?  

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  And the king will answer and say to them, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.  

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  Then will he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  

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  For I was hungry, and ye gave me no food: 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 will they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee?  

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

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

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