← 24 compare 26 →
1 At that time the kingdom of the heavens shall be like ten virgins, who taking their own lamps went out for a meeting with the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were fools and five wise: 3 for the fools taking their lamps did not take for themselves oil, 4 but the wise took oil in the vessels with their lamps. 5 And with the bridegroom delaying they all had gotten drowsy and slept. 6 Then there came a cry at midnight: 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come for a meeting with him!' 7 Then all those virgins arose and prepared their own lamps. 8 And the fools said to the wise: 'Give to us some of your oil, because our lamps are extinguished!' 9 But the wise replied saying 'Never! By no means would it be sufficient for us and for you! Rather you must go to the dealers and buy it for yourselves!' 10 But upon their having departed to buy it the bridegroom came, and those who were ready entered in with him into the wedding-feast and shut the door. 11 Then later the rest of the virgins also came, saying 'Master, master! Open for us!' 12 But responding he said 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you!' 13 Therefore you must be alert, because you know not the day nor the hour! " 14 For it is just like a man traveling abroad who called his own slaves and turned over to them his properties. 15 And while to one he had given five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability, then he went abroad. Immediately 16 going he receiving the five talents conducted business with them and profited five others. 17 Likewise he with the two profited two others. 18 But he receiving the one having departed dug into the ground and hid the silver of his master. 19 Then after much time the master of those slaves comes and takes an account together with them. 20 And he receiving the five talents coming forth presented five other talents, saying 'Master, you turned over to me five talents. Behold, I have profited another five talents!' 21 His master said to him: 'Well done, good and faithful slave! With a little you were faithful. I shall appoint you over much! Enter into the joy of your master!' 22 Coming forth also he with the two talents said: 'Master, you turned over to me two talents. Behold, I have profited another two talents!' 23 His master said to him: 'Well done, good and faithful slave! With a little you were faithful. I shall appoint you over much! Enter into the joy of your master!' 24 Then coming forth also he who received the one talent said: 'Master, I know you, that you are a hard man, reaping from where you have not sown and gathering from where you have not scattered, 25 and being in fear having departed I hid your talent in the earth. Behold, have that which is yours!' 26 But replying his master said to him: 'Wicked and timid slave! You knew that I reap from where I have not sown and I gather from where I have not scattered? 27 Therefore it was necessary for you to deposit my silver with the bankers, and coming I would have received that which is mine with interest! 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him having the ten talents!' 29 For to each having it shall be given and he shall have abundance, but to he not having even that which he has shall be taken from him! 30 And the useless slave shall be cast out into the outer darkness. There shall there be weeping and gnashing of teeth! " 31 And when the Son of Man should come in His effulgence and all the messengers with Him, then He shall sit upon His throne of honor. 32 And they shall gather before Him all the nations and He shall separate them from one another just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And He shall indeed stand the sheep at His right hand, but the goats at His left hand. 34 Then the King shall say to those at His right hand: 'Come, those blessed of My Father, you shall inherit the kingdom which has been prepared for you from the foundation of Society! 35 For I hungered and you gave Me to eat; I had thirst and you had given Me drink; I was a visitor and you had taken Me in; 36 naked and you had clothed Me; I had been sick and you watched over Me; I was in prison and you had come to Me.' 37 Then the righteous shall respond to Him saying: 'Master, when have we seen You hungry and nourished You, or thirsting and had given drink? 38 And when have we seen You a visitor and had taken You in, or naked and had clothed You? 39 And when have we seen You being sick or in prison and had come to You?' 40 And replying the King shall say to them: 'Truly I say to you, for whomever of the least of My brethren have you done one of these things, you have done them for Me!' 41 Then He shall say also to those at the left hand: 'Go from Me, accursed, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the False Accuser and his messengers! 42 For I hungered and you did not give Me to eat, and I had thirst and you had not given Me drink; 43 I was a visitor and you had not taken Me in, naked and you had not clothed Me, sick and in prison and you had not visited Me!' 44 Then they themselves shall also respond saying: 'Master, when have we seen You hungry or thirsting or a visitor or naked or sick or in prison and had not served You?' 45 Then He shall respond to them saying: 'Truly I say to you, for whomever you had not done one of the least of these things, neither have you done them for Me!' 46 And they shall go off into the eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."