Matthew 25
1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
3 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,
The foolish ones took their lamps, but took no oil with them;
4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
while the prudent ones, besides taking their lamps, took oil in their jars.
5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
As the groom was late in coming, they all became drowsy, and slept.
6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’
But at midnight a shout was raised – ‘The groom is coming! Come out to meet him!’
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Then all the bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps,
8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
and the foolish said to the prudent ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there is not enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
But the prudent ones answered ‘No, There may not be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell it, and buy for yourselves.’
10 While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
But while they were on their way to buy it, the groom came; and the bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the banquet, and the door was shut.
11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’
Afterward the other bridesmaids came. ‘Sir, Sir,’ they said, ‘open the door to us!’
12 But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I do not know you.’
But the groom answered ‘I tell you, I do not know you.’
13 Watch therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Therefore watch, since you know neither the day nor the hour.
14 “For it is like a man going into another country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them.
“For it is as though a man, going on his travels, called his servants, and gave his property into their charge.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
He gave five bags of gold to one, two to another, and one bag to a third, in proportion to the ability of each. Then he set out on his travels.
16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
The servant who had received the five bags of gold went at once and traded with it, and made another five bags.
17 In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.
So, too, the servant who had received the two bags of gold made another two bags.
18 But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth and hid his lord’s money.
But the servant who had received the one bag went and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and settled accounts with them.
After a long time the master of those servants returned, and settled accounts with them.
20 He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’
The servant who had received the five bags of gold came up and brought five bags more. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold; look, I have made another five bags!’
21 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
‘Well done, good, trustworthy servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been trustworthy with a small sum; now I will place a large one in your hands; come and share your master’s joy!’
22 “He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’
Then the one who had received the two bags of gold came up and said ‘Sir, you entrusted me with two bags pounds; look, I have made another two!’
23 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
‘Well done, good, trustworthy servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been trustworthy with a small sum; now I will place a large one in your hands; come and share your master’s joy!’
24 “He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
The man who had received the single bag of gold came up, too, and said ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man; you reap where you have not sown, and gather up where you have not winnowed;
25 I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’
and, in my fear, I went and hid your money in the ground; look, here is what belongs to you!’
26 “But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter.
‘You lazy, worthless servant!’ was his master’s reply. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather up where I have not winnowed?
27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
Then you ought to have placed my money in the hands of bankers, and I, on my return, should have received my money, with interest.
28 Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
Therefore,’ he continued, ‘take away from him the one bag of gold, and give it to the one who has the ten bags.
29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who does not have, even that which he has will be taken away.
For, to him who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but, as for him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him.
30 Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
As for the useless servant, put him out into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
“When the Son of Man has come in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory;
32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
and all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people – just as a shepherd separates sheep from goats –
33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
placing the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left.
34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
Then the king will say to those on his right ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, enter into possession of the kingdom prepared for you ever since the beginning of the world.
35 for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in.
For, when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was a stranger, you took me to your homes;
36 I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’
when I was naked, you clothed me; when I fell ill, you visited me; and when I was in prison, you came to me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?
Then the righteous will answer ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you? Or thirsty, and give you a drink?
38 When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you a stranger, and take you to our homes? Or naked, and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’
When did we see you ill, or in prison, and come to you?’
40 “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
And the king will reply ‘I tell you, as often as you did it to one of these my brothers or sisters, however unimportant they seemed, you did it to me.’
41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the consummate (aiōnios g166) fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;
Then he will say to those on his left ‘Go from my presence, accursed, into the permanent fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels. (aiōnios g166)
42 for I was hungry, and you did not give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;
For, when I was hungry, you gave me no food; when I was thirsty, you gave me no drink;
43 I was a stranger, and you did not take me in; naked, and you did not clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.’
when I was a stranger, you did not take me to your homes; when I was naked, you did not clothe me; and, when I was ill and in prison, you did not visit me.’
44 “Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not help you?’
Then they, in their turn, will answer ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or ill, or in prison, and did not supply your wants?’
45 “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’
And then he will reply ‘I tell you, as often as you failed to do it to one of these, however unimportant, you failed to do it to me.’
