25:1  "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

25:2  Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

25:3  Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,

25:4  but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

25:5  But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

25:6  "And at midnight a cry was heard: "Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!"

25:7  Then all those virgins arose 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 answered, saying, "No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, 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 wedding; and the door was shut.

25:11  "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us!"

25:12  But he answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you."

25:13  "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

25:14  "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.

25:15  And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

25:16  Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

25:17  And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.

25:18  But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.

25:19  After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

25:20  "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, "Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them."

25:21  His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."

25:22  He also who had received two talents came and said, "Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them."

25:23  His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."

25:24  "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, "Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

25:25  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours."

25:26  "But his lord answered and said to him, "You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.

25:27  So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

25:28  So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

25:29  "For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

25:30  And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

25:31  "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.

25:32  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

25:33  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

25:34  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you 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 took Me in;

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, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?

25:38  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?

25:39  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?"

25:40  And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

25:41  "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting 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 take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me."

25:44  "Then they also will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?"

25:45  Then He will answer them, saying, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me."

25:46  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."