Matthew 25:1-19 ▼

1 “Then will the kingdom of the heavens be likened to ten virgins, who, having taken their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom;

2 and five of them were prudent, and five foolish;

3 they who were foolish having taken their lamps, did not take with themselves oil;

4 and the prudent took oil in their vessels, with their lamps.

5 And the bridegroom lingering, they all nodded and were sleeping,

6 and in the middle of the night a cry was made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go forth to meet him!

7 Then all those virgins rose, and trimmed their lamps,

8 and the foolish said to the prudent, Give us of your oil, because our lamps are going out;

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

10 And while they are going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those ready went in with him to the wedding feasts, and the door was shut;

11 and afterward come also the rest of the virgins, saying, Lord, lord, open to us;

12 and he answering said, Truly I say to you, I have not known you.

13 Watch therefore, for you have not known the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man comes.

14 For—as a man going abroad called his own servants, and delivered to them his substance,

15 and to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each according to his several ability, went abroad immediately.

16 And he who received the five talents, having gone, worked with them, and made five other talents;

17 in like manner also he who [received] the two, he gained, also he, other two;

18 and he who received the one, having gone away, dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

19 And after a long time comes the lord of those servants, and takes reckoning with them;