1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, the friends of the bride, who took their lights, and went out with the purpose of meeting the husband.

2 And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

3 For the foolish, when they took their lights, took no oil with them.

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lights.

5 Now the husband was a long time in coming, and they all went to sleep.

6 But in the middle of the night there is a cry, The husband comes! Go out to him.

7 Then all those virgins got up, and made ready their lights.

8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lights are going out.

9 But the wise made answer, saying, There may not be enough for us and you; it would be better for you to go to the traders and get oil for yourselves.

10 And while they went to get oil, the master came; and those who were ready went in with him to the feast: and the door was shut.

11 After that the other virgins came, saying, Lord, Lord, let us in.

12 But he made answer and said, Truly I say to you, I have no knowledge of you.

13 Keep watch, then, because you are not certain of the day or of the hour.

14 For it is as when a man, about to take a journey, got his servants together, and gave them his property.

15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to everyone as he was able; and he went on his journey.

16 Straight away he who had been given the five talents went and did trade with them, and made five more.

17 In the same way he who had been given the two got two more.

18 But he who was given the one went away and put it in a hole in the earth, and kept his lord's money in a secret place.

19 Now after a long time the lord of those servants comes, and makes up his account with them.

20 And he who had the five talents came with his other five talents, saying, Lord, you gave into my care five talents: see, I have got five more.

21 His lord said to him, Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a small thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the joy of your lord.

22 And he who had the two talents came and said, Lord, you gave into my care two talents: see, I have got two more.

23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a small thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the joy of your lord.

24 And he who had had the one talent came and said, Lord, I had knowledge that you are a hard man, getting in grain where you have not put seed, and making profits for which you have done no work:

25 And I was in fear, and went away, and put your talent in the earth: here is what is yours.

26 But his lord in answer said to him, You are a bad and unready servant; if you had knowledge that I get in grain where I did not put seed, and make profits for which I have done no work,

27 Why, then, did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I would have got back what is mine with interest?

28 Take away, then, his talent and give it to him who has the ten talents.

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

30 And put out the servant who is of no profit into the outer dark: there will be weeping and cries of sorrow.

31 But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then will he be seated in his glory:

32 And before him all the nations will come together; and they will be parted one from another, as the sheep are parted from the goats by the keeper.

33 And he will put the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

34 Then will the King say to those on his right, Come, you who have the blessing of my Father, into the kingdom made ready for you before the world was:

35 For I was in need of food, and you gave it to me: I was in need of drink, and you gave it to me: I was wandering, and you took me in;

36 I had no clothing, and you gave it to me: when I was ill, or in prison, you came to me.

37 Then will the upright make answer to him, saying, Lord, when did we see you in need of food, and give it to you? or in need of drink, and give it to you?

38 And when did we see you wandering, and take you in? or without clothing, and give it to you?

39 And when did we see you ill, or in prison, and come to you?

40 And the King will make answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Because you did it to the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

41 Then will he say to those on the left, Go from me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which is ready for the Evil One and his angels:

42 For I was in need of food, and you gave it not to me; I was in need of drink, and you gave it not to me:

43 I was wandering, and you took me not in; without clothing, and you gave me no clothing; ill, and in prison, and you came not to me.

44 Then will they make answer, saying, Lord, when did we see you in need of food or drink, or wandering, or without clothing, or ill, or in prison, and did not take care of you?

45 Then will he make answer to them, saying, Truly I say to you, Because you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me.

46 And these will go away into eternal punishment; but the upright into eternal life.

1 "Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you 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. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two. 18 But he who received the one talent 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 settled accounts with them. 20 He 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 in addition to 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 in addition to 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 didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter. 25 I 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. 27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. 28 Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away. 30 Throw 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. 32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. 36 I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you 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? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’

40 "The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you 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 certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."