THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking
their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom. (2)But five of them
were provident, and five foolish. (3)Those who were taking their lamps,
took no oil with them: (4)but the provident took oil in their vessels
with their lamps. (5)But as the bridegroom stayed long, they all
slumbered and slept. (6)Then at midnight the cry came, Behold, the
bridegroom is coming; go forth to meet him. (7)Then all these virgins
arose, and set about trimming their lamps. (8)And the foolish said to
the provident, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. (9)But
the provident replied, saying, No; lest there be not a sufficiency for
us and you: but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.
(10)But while they were gone away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they
who were prepared went in with him to the marriage-feast: and the door
was shut. (11)Then came afterwards the other virgins, saying, Lord,
Lord, open unto us. (12)But he answering said, Verily, I know you not.
(13)Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour in which the
Son of man cometh.
(14)For the case is like that of a man, who travelling abroad, called
his own servants, and delivered to them his goods. (15)And to one he
gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each
according to his several capacity; and immediately went abroad. (16)He
then who had received the five talents, went and traded with them, and
acquired five other talents. (17)In the same manner also he that had
the two, gained also himself two others. (18)But he that had received
the one talent, went and digged a hole in the ground, and hid the
silver of his master. (19)Then after a long absence the master of these
servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. (20)And he who had
received the five talents, coming to him, brought five other talents,
saying, Sir, thou deliveredst to me five talents: I have gained to them
five other talents. (21)His master said to him, Well done, good and
faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will
place thee over many: enter into the joy of thy master. (22)Then came
also he that had received the two talents: and said, Sir, thou
deliveredst to me two talents: lo! I have gained to them two other
talents. (23)His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful
servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee
over many: enter thou into thy master's joy. (24)Then came also he that
had received the one talent, and said, Sir, knowing thee, that thou art
a severe man, reaping where thou hast not sowed, and gathering from
whence thou hast not scattered: (25)and being afraid, I went and hid
thy talent in the ground: see here, thou hast thine own. (26)Then his
master answering said to him, Thou wicked and idle slave, thou knewest
that I reap whence I had not sown, and gather where I had not
scattered: (27)thou oughtest then to have placed my money with the
bankers, so when I came I should have received my own with interest.
(28)Take therefore from him the talent, and give it to him that hath
the ten talents. (29)For to every one that hath shall be given, and he
shall abound: but from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be
taken away from him. (30)And cast the unprofitable servant into the
outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(31)But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy
angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: (32)and
before him shall all the nations be gathered together; and he shall
separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from
the goats: (33)and he shall place the sheep at his right hand, but the
goats at the left. (34)Then shall the King say to those on his
right-hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world; (35)for I was hungry, and ye
gave me to eat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a
stranger, and ye received me hospitably: (36)naked, and ye clothed me:
I was sick, and ye took care of me: I was in prison, and ye came to me.
(37)Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee
hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? (38)When indeed
saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
(39)When indeed saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
(40)And the king answering shall say to them, Verily I tell you, for as
much as ye have done it to one of these my brethren, the very least of
them, ye have done it unto me.
(41)Then shall he say also to those on the left hand, Depart from me,
ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels: (42)for I was hungry, and ye gave me nothing to eat: I was
thirsty, and ye gave me nothing to drink: (43)I was a stranger, and ye
took me not in: naked, and ye did not clothe me: sick, and in prison,
and ye took no care of me. (44)Then shall 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 unto thee? (45)Then shall he
reply to them, saying, For as much as ye have not done it to one of the
least of these, neither have ye done it to me. (46)And these shall go
away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.