1 »Then will the Kingdom of the Heavens be found to be like ten bridesmaids who took their torches and went out to meet the bridegroom.«
2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
3 For the foolish, when they took their torches, did not provide themselves with oil;
4 but the wise, besides their torches, took oil in their flasks.
5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, so that meanwhile they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 But at midnight there is a loud cry, »The bridegroom! Go out and meet him!'
7 »Then all those bridesmaids roused themselves and trimmed their torches.«
8 »Give us some of your oil,' said the foolish ones to the wise, for our torches are going out.'«
9 »But perhaps,' replied the wise, there will not be enough for all of us. Go to the shops rather, and buy some for yourselves.'«
10 »So they went to buy. But meanwhile the bridegroom came; those bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.«
11 »Afterwards the other bridesmaids came and cried,« Sir, Sir, open the door to us.'
12 »In solemn truth I tell you,' he replied, I do not know you.'«
13 »Keep awake therefore; for you know neither the day nor the hour.«
11 Deaconesses, in the same way, must be sober-minded women, not slanderers, but in every way temperate and trustworthy.
5 And if any one of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives with open hand to all men, and without upbraiding; and it will be given him.
3 In the same way exhort aged women to let their conduct be such as becomes consecrated persons. They must not be slanderers nor enslaved to wine-drinking. They must be teachers of what is right.
4 They should school the young women to be affectionate to their husbands and to their children, to be sober-minded, pure in their lives,
5 industrious in their homes, kind, submissive to their husbands, so that the Christian teaching may not be exposed to reproach.