Matthew 25:1-45 ▼

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

2 and five of them were foolish, and five wise.

3 For the foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them;

4 but the wise took oil in the vessels with their lamps.

5 And in the tarrying of the bridegroom, they all became drowsy and were sleeping.

6 And in the middle of the night there was a cry: ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your? oil, because our lamps are going out.’

9 And the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest it might not be sufficient for us and you?. Go rather to those selling, and buy for yourselves.’

10 And in their going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.

11 And afterward, the other virgins come also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us!’

12 And answering, he said, ‘Truly I say to you?, I have not known you?.’

13 Therefore watch, for you? do not know the day nor the hour.

14 For it is like a man going on a journey who called his own servants and delivered his possessions to them.

15 And indeed, to one he gave five talents; and to one, two; and to one, one—to each according to his own ability. And he left the region.

16 Immediately the one having received the five talents, having gone, traded with them and gained five others.

17 Likewise, the one with the two gained two others.

18 But the one having received the one, having gone away, dug in the earth and hid his master's money.

19 And after much time, the master of those servants comes and settles the account with them.

20 And the one having received the five talents, having come, brought to him five other talents, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I gained five other talents.’

21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’

22 And the one with the two talents, also having come, said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I gained two other talents.’

23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’

24 And the one having received the one talent, having come, also said, ‘Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering from where you did not scatter.

25 And having been afraid, having gone away, I hid your talent in the ground. Behold, you have what is yours.’

26 And answering, his master said to him, ‘Wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather from where I did not scatter.

27 Therefore it was necessary for you to cast my money to the bankers, and having come, I would have received my own with interest.

28 Therefore take away the talent from him and give it to the one having the ten talents.

29 For everyone having will be given, and he will have in abundance. But the one not having, even that which he has will be taken away from him.

30 And cast out the worthless servant into the outer darkness—there will be weeping and gnashing of the teeth.’

31 And when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon the throne of His glory.

32 And all the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33 And indeed, He will set the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left.

34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, the blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you? from the foundation of the world.

35 For I hungered, and you? gave Me something to eat; I thirsted, and you? gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you? took Me in;

36 I was naked, and you? clothed Me; I was ailing, and you? visited Me; I was in prison, and you? came to Me.’

37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungering, and fed You? Or thirsting, and gave You to drink?

38 And when did we see You a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed You?

39 And when did we see You ailing or in prison, and came to You?’

40 And answering, the King will say to them, ‘Truly I say to you?, inasmuch as you? did it to one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you? did it to Me.’

41 Then also He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, the cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42 For I hungered, and you? did not give to Me to eat; and I thirsted, and you? did not give Me to drink;

43 I was a stranger, and you? did not take Me in; naked, and you? did not clothe Me; ailing and in prison, and you? did not visit Me.’

44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or ailing, or in prison, and we did not minister to You?’

45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Truly I say to you?, inasmuch as you? did not do it to one of the least of these, you? did not do it to Me.’