1: Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which
took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2: And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3: They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5: While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6: And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh;
go ye out to meet him.
7: Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8: And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our
lamps are gone out.
9: But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough
for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10: And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that
were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11: Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open
to us.
12: But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13: Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein
the Son of man cometh.
14: For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country,
who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15: And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another
one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took
his journey.
16: Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with
the same, and made them other five talents.
17: And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18: But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and
hid his lord's money.
19: After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth
with them.
20: And so he that had received five talents came and brought other
five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold,
I have gained beside them five talents more.
21: His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over
many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22: He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou
deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents
beside them.
23: His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou
hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many
things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24: Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord,
I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown,
and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo,
there thou hast that is thine.
26: His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant,
thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not
strawed:
27: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers,
and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28: Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which
hath ten talents.
29: For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have
abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which
he hath.
30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31: When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels
with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate
them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on
the left.
34: Then shall the King say unto them 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 an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye
gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was
in prison, and ye came unto me.
37: Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we
thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38: When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed
thee?
39: Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40: And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto
you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me.
41: Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from
me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and
ye gave me no drink:
43: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed
me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44: Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee
an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison,
and did not minister unto thee?
45: Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch
as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous
into life eternal.