Matthew 25:1-30 ▼

1 Then shall the kyngdome of heauen be lykened vnto ten virgins, which toke their lampes, and went to meete the brydegrome.

2 But fyue of them were foolyshe, and fyue were wyse.

3 They that were foolyshe, toke their lampes, but toke none oyle with them:

4 But the wise, toke oyle in their vessels, with their lampes also.

5 Whyle the brydegrome taryed, they all slumbred and slept.

6 And euen at mydnyght, there was a crye made: beholde, the brydegrome commeth, go out to meete hym.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and prepared their lampes.

8 So the foolyshe sayde vnto the wyse: geue vs of your oyle, for our lampes are gone out.

9 But the wyse aunswered, saying: not so lest there be not inough for vs & you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and bye for your selues.

10 And whyle they went to bye, the brydegome came: and they that were redy, went in with hym, to ye maryage, and the gate was shut vp.

11 Afterwarde came also the other virgins, saying: Lorde, Lorde, open to vs.

12 But he aunswered and sayde: veryly I say vnto you, I knowe you not.

13 Watch therfore, for ye knowe neither the day, nor yet the houre, wherin the sonne of man shall come.

14 Lykewyse, as a certayne man, redy to take his iourney into a straunge countrey, called his owne seruauntes, and delyuered vnto them his goodes.

15 And vnto one, he gaue fyue talentes, to another two, and to another one: to euery man after his habilitie, & strayght way departed.

16 Then he that had receaued the fyue talentes, went, and occupyed with the same, & made them other fyue talentes.

17 And lykewyse, he that receaued two: he also gayned other two.

18 But he that receaued that one, went and digged in the earth, and hyd his Lordes money.

19 After a long season, the Lorde of those seruauntes commeth, and reckeneth with them.

20 And so, he that had receaued fyue talentes, came, and brought other fyue talentes, saying: Lorde, thou delyueredst vnto me fyue talentes, beholde, I haue gayned with them fyue talentes mo.

21 His Lorde saide vnto him: Well done, thou good and faythfull seruaut. Thou hast ben faythfull ouer fewe thynges, I wyll make thee ruler ouer manye thynges: enter thou into the ioy of thy Lorde.

22 He also that had receaued two talentes, came, and sayde: Lorde thou delyueredst vnto me two talentes, beholde, I haue wonne two other taletes with them.

23 His Lorde saide vnto him? Well done, good and faithfull seruaunt. Thou hast ben faythfull ouer fewe thinges, I wyl make thee ruler ouer many thynges: enter thou into the ioy of thy Lorde.

24 Then he which had receaued the one talent, came, and saide: Lorde I knew thee, that thou art an harde man, reapyng where thou hast not sowen, & gatheryng where thou hast not strowed.

25 And therfore was I afrayde, & went and hid thy talent in the earth: loe, there thou hast that thyne is.

26 His Lorde aunswered, and sayde vnto hym: Thou euyll and slouthfull seruaut, thou knewest that I reape where I sowed not, and gather where I haue not strowed,

27 Thou oughtest therfore to haue delyuered my money to the exchaungers, and then at my commyng shoulde I haue receaued myne owne with vauntage.

28 Take therfore the talent from hym, and geue it vnto hym whiche hath ten talentes.

29 For vnto euery one that hath, shalbe geuen, and he shall haue aboundaunce: But he that hath not, from hym shalbe taken away, euen that which he hath.

30 And cast the vnprofitable seruaunt into vtter darknesse, there shalbe wepyng, and gnasshyng of teeth.