Bible Time

¹'Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. ²Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, ⁴but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. ⁶But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come_P out to meet him!' ⁷Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. ⁸The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' ⁹But the wise answered, saying, 'What if there isn't enough for us and you? You_P go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' ¹⁰While 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. ¹¹Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' ¹²But he answered, 'Most assuredly I tell you, I don't know you.' ¹³Watch therefore, for you_P don't know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

¹⁴'For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them. ¹⁵To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. ¹⁷In like manner he also who got the two gained another two. ¹⁸But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

¹⁹'Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them. ²⁰He 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.'

²¹'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.'

²²'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.'

²³'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.'

²⁴'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. ²⁵I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.'

²⁶'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. ²⁷You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. ²⁸Take_P away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. ²⁹For 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. ³⁰Throw_P out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

³¹'But 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. ³²Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come_P , blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; ³⁵for I was hungry, and you_P gave me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you_P gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you_P took me in; ³⁶naked, and you_P clothed me; I was sick, and you_P visited me; I was in prison, and you_P came to me.'

³⁷'Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? ³⁸When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'

⁴⁰'The King will answer them, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you_P did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you_P did it to me.' ⁴¹Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you_P cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; ⁴²for I was hungry, and you_P didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you_P gave me no drink; ⁴³I was a stranger, and you_P didn't take me in; naked, and you_P didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you_P didn't visit me.'

⁴⁴'Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?'

⁴⁵'Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you_P didn't do it to one of the least of these, you_P didn't do it to me.' ⁴⁶These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.'