25Then shall the kingdom
of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went
forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five
of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that
were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the
wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While
the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at
midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out
to meet him. 7 Then all
those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the
foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone
out. 9 But the
wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you:
but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while
they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in
with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward
came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he
answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch
therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man
cometh. 14 For the
kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called
his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto
one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man
according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then
he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and
made them other five talents. 17 And likewise
he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he
that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19 After
a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so
he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying,
Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside
them five talents more. 21 His lord
said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter
thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also
that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto
me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord
said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful
over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into
the joy of thy lord. 24 Then
he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that
thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where
thou hast not strawed:
25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in
the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord
answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest
that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou
oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my
coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take
therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto
every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from
him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast
ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth. 31 When
the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him,
then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before
him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another,
as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he
shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then
shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I
was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink:
I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked,
and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye
came unto me. 37 Then
shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred,
and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When
saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when
saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the
King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as
ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done
it unto me. 41 Then
shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I
was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no
drink: 43 I was
a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and
in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then
shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or
athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister
unto thee? 45 Then
shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did
it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these
shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.