1“Then the kingdom of the heavens will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3For the foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.
4But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
5Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6But in the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Look, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
7Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
8But the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’
9But the wise ones answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and for you. Go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’
10But while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came. And those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
11Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open up for us!’
12But he answered and said, ‘Truly, I tell you, I do not know you.’
13Therefore, stay awake, because you do not know the day or the hour.
14“For it is like a man going on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
15To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey.
16Immediately, the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them and gained another five talents.
17In the same way, the one with the two talents gained another two.
18But the one who had received the one talent went away, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
19Now after a long time the lord of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
20The one who had received the five talents came forward and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents.’
21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22The one with the two talents also came forward and said, ‘Lord, you entrusted two talents to me; see, I have gained two more talents.’
23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed.
25So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter seed?
27Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my own back with interest.
28Therefore, take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
29For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
30And throw the worthless slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
31But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
32And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
34Then 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 foundation of the world.
35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me in,
36naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?
38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you in, or naked and clothe you?
39And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’
40And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, insofar as you did it for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.’
41Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me in, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
44Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to you?’
45Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly I say to you, insofar as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me either.’
46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
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