| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New Living Translation |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. Parable of the Three Servants |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together! ’ |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ The Final Judgment |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. |
| 35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. |
| 36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ |
| 37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? |
| 38[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? |
| 39[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ |
| 40[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ |
| 41[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. |
| 42[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. |
| 43[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ |
| 44[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ |
| 45[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ |
| 46[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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