Matthew

25 “Then the Reign of Heaven will resemble ten maidens who took their torches and went out to meet a bridegroom. 2 And five of them were foolish and five sensible; 3 for the foolish ones did not take oil with them when they took their torches, 4* but the sensible took oil in pitchers with their torches. 5 And as the bridegroom was long in coming they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. 6 But at midnight there came a shout ‘Here is the bridegroom! come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those maidens woke up and put their torches in order. 8 And the foolish ones said to the sensible ones ‘Give us some of your oil, because our torches are going out’; 9 but the sensible ones answered ‘It might not be sufficient for us and you both; better go to those who have it to sell and buy yourselves some.’ 10 But while they were away buying, the bridegroom came, and the ones who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut. 11 And afterward the rest of the maidens also came saying ‘Sir, sir, open to us.’ 12 But he answered ‘I tell you verily, I do not know you.’ 13 So keep awake, because you do not know the day nor the hour.

14* “For it is as when a man who was going abroad called his servants and handed over his property to them 15* and gave to one five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his individual ability, and went away. 16 At once the one who had received the five talents went and set up a business with them and made five more; 17 similarly the one who had received the two made two more; 18 but the one who had received the one went off and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 And after a long time the master of those servants came and had an accounting with them; 20 and the one who had received the five talents came up and brought five talents more, saying ‘Sir, you handed over five talents to me; here I have made five talents more.’ 21* His master said to him ‘Well done, good trusty man; you were faithful over a little, I will set you over much; go in to your master’s rejoicing.’ 22 The one who had received the two talents also came up and said ‘Sir, you handed over two talents to me; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him ‘Well done, good trusty man; you were faithful over a little, I will set you over much; go in to your master’s rejoicing.’ 24 And the one who had received the one talent also came up and said ‘Sir, I knew you for a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow and picking up where you did not drop, 25 and I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground; here you have your property.’ 26* But his master answered him ‘You lazy villain, you knew, did you, that I harvest where I did not sow and pick up where I did not drop? 27 then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and when I came I should have got my property with interest.— 28 So take the talent away from him and give it to the one with the ten talents; 29 for everyone who has shall have more given to him, and shall have enough and to spare, but from him who has not there shall be taken away even what he has. 30* And put out the inefficient servant into the outside darkness; there will the’ weeping and the grinding of teeth be.’

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angel with him, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory, 32 and all the nations will be brought before him; and he will separate them from each other as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and will set the sheep on his right, but the goats on his left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right ‘Come here, blessed of my Father, inherit the empire that has been prepared for you since the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave me a meal, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you lodged me, 36 naked and you clad me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the right-doers will answer him ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and lodge you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ 40 And the King will answer them ‘I tell you verily, insofar as you did it to one of the littlest of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will also say to those on his left ‘Go from me, accursed men, to the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you did not give me a meal, I was thirsty and you did not give me a drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not lodge me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 Then they too will answer ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and not attend to your needs?’ 45 Then he will answer them ‘I tell you verily, insofar as you did not do it to one of the littlest of these, to me also you did not do it.’ 46 And these will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”