Matthew 25:9
New International Version
“’No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

New Living Translation
“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

English Standard Version
But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’

Berean Standard Bible
‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

Berean Literal Bible
And the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest it might not suffice for us and you. Go rather to those selling, and buy for yourselves.'

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

New American Standard Bible
However, the prudent ones answered, ‘No, there most certainly would not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’

NASB 1995
“But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

NASB 1977
“But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

Legacy Standard Bible
But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

Amplified Bible
But the wise replied, ‘No, otherwise there will not be enough for us and for you, too; go instead to the dealers and buy oil for yourselves.’

Christian Standard Bible
“The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“The sensible ones answered, No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.’

American Standard Version
But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But the wise answered and said, “Why? There is not enough for us and for you; go to those who sell and buy for yourselves.”

Contemporary English Version
Those who were wise answered, "There's not enough oil for all of us! Go and buy some for yourselves."

Douay-Rheims Bible
The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

English Revised Version
But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"But the wise bridesmaids replied, 'We can't do that. There won't be enough for both of us. Go! Find someone to sell you some oil.'

Good News Translation
'No, indeed,' the wise ones answered, 'there is not enough for you and for us. Go to the store and buy some for yourselves.'

International Standard Version
"But the wise ones replied, 'No! There will never be enough for us and for you. You'd better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'

Literal Standard Version
and the prudent answered, saying, Lest there may not be sufficient for us and you, go rather to those selling, and buy for yourselves.

Majority Standard Bible
‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

New American Bible
But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’

NET Bible
No,' they replied. 'There won't be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

New Revised Standard Version
But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

New Heart English Bible
But the wise answered, saying, 'No, there will not be enough for us and you. Go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Weymouth New Testament
"'But perhaps,' replied the wise, 'there will not be enough for all of us. Go to the shops rather, and buy some for yourselves.'

World English Bible
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.’

Young's Literal Translation
and the prudent answered, saying -- Lest there may not be sufficient for us and you, go ye rather unto those selling, and buy for yourselves.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.…

Cross References
Psalm 49:7
No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.

Matthew 7:24
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Matthew 25:2
Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

Matthew 25:8
The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'


Treasury of Scripture

But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

lest.

Psalm 49:7-9
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: …

Jeremiah 15:1
Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.

Ezekiel 14:14-16,20
Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD…

but.

Isaiah 55:1-3,6,7
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price…

Acts 8:22
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Revelation 3:17,18
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: …

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Matthew 25
1. The parable of the ten virgins,
14. and of the talents.
31. Also the description of the last judgment.














(9) Not so.--The words, as the italics show, are not in the Greek. They are, perhaps, necessary to complete the sense in English; but there is a tone of regretful tenderness in the way in which, in the original, the wise virgins give the reason that makes compliance with the request impossible, without directly uttering a refusal.

Go ye rather to them that sell.--This feature in the parable is too remarkable to be passed over lightly, especially as the "exchangers" in the parable that follows are clearly more or less analogous. We have to ask, then, who they are that, in the interpretation of the parable, according to the data already ascertained, answer to "them that sell." And the answer is, that they are the pastors and teachers of the Church--the stewards of the mysteries of God. Through them, whether as preachers of the divine Word of Wisdom, or as administering the sacraments which are signs and means of grace, men may, by God's appointment, obtain the gift and grace they need. The "buying" and "selling" belong, of course, in their literal sense, to the parable only. No gift of God can be purchased with money (Acts 8:20). But the words are not, therefore, any more than in Matthew 13:44-46 (where see Notes), destitute of meaning. Men may "buy" the truth which they are not to sell (Proverbs 23:23). They are invited to buy the "wine and milk," which symbolise God's spiritual gifts, "without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1). The price that God requires is the consecration of their heart (Proverbs 23:26). . . .

Verse 9. - Not so; lest there be not enough (μήποτε οὐ μὴ ἀρκέσῃ, haply it will not suffice). Edersheim renders, "Not at all - it will never suffice for us and you," in order to give the force of the double negation. In Aristotle, μήποτε is often equivalent to "perhaps," e.g. 'Eth. Nic.,' 10:1. 3. "Even so they failed," says St. Chrysostom, "and neither the humanity of those of whom they begged, nor the easiness of their request, nor their necessity and want, made them obtain their petition. And what do we learn from hence? That no man can protect us there if we are betrayed by our works; not because he will not, but because he cannot. For these, too, take refuge in the impossibility. This the blessed Abraham also indicated, saying, 'Between us and you there is a great gulf,' so that not even when willing is it permitted them to pass it." But (probably spurious) go ye rather to them that sell. The answer is not harsh, and the advice is not ironical or unkind. The wise cannot of themselves supply the lack. They have no superabundant store of grace to communicate to others; at best even they are unprofitable servants; the righteous shall scarcely be saved; so they direct their companions to the only source where effectual grace may be obtained. They that sell are the ministers and stewards of Christ's mysteries, who dispense the means of grace. These are said to be bought, as the treasure hid in the field or the pearl of great price is bought (Matthew 13:44-46). Divine grace can always be procured by those who will pay the price thereof; and the price is faith and prayer and earnestness, - nothing more, nothing less (Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 3:18). But the time is short; delay is fatal; hence the counsel so urgently given, "Go ye," etc. Buy for yourselves. This is important. Every one must bear his own burden. The grace must be their own; what is required of those who would meet the Bridegroom without shame and fear is personal preparation, personal faith and holiness. We shall be judged individually; our Christian virtues must be entirely our own, wrought in us by the grace of God, with which we have humbly and thankfully cooperated. It is curious that some ancient and modern commentators see in this part of the parable, only an ornamental detail without special signification.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
‘No,’
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

said
Ἀπεκρίθησαν (Apekrithēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

the
αἱ (hai)
Article - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

wise [ones],
φρόνιμοι (phronimoi)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5429: Intelligent, prudent, sensible, wise. From phren; thoughtful, i.e. Sagacious or discreet; in a bad sense conceited.

‘or
Μή¦Ποτε (Mē¦Pote)
Adverb
Strong's 3379: Or me pote from me and pote; not ever; also if ever.

there may not be enough
ἀρκέσῃ (arkesē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 714: To keep off, assist; I suffice; pass: To be satisfied. Apparently a primary verb; properly, to ward off, i.e. to avail.

for [both] us
ἡμῖν (hēmin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

you.
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

Instead,
μᾶλλον (mallon)
Adverb
Strong's 3123: More, rather. Neuter of the comparative of the same as malista; more) or rather.

go
πορεύεσθε (poreuesthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

those who
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sell [oil]
πωλοῦντας (pōlountas)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4453: To sell, exchange, barter. Probably ultimately from pelomai; to barter, i.e. To sell.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

buy [some]
ἀγοράσατε (agorasate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 59: To buy. From agora; properly, to go to market, i.e. to purchase; specially, to redeem.

for yourselves.’
ἑαυταῖς (heautais)
Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 25:9 But the wise answered saying 'What if (Matt. Mat Mt)
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