Matthew 25
1 The kingdom of heaven is like ten girls, who took their lamps with them to go and meet the bridegroom.
"Then will the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten maidens who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.
2 Five were foolish, and five were wise.
"And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 The foolish girls took their lamps but didn't take any oil with them,
"The foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them;
4 while the wise took jars of oil with them as well as their lamps.
"but the wise took oil in their flasks with their lamps.
5 The bridegroom took a long time and all the girls became drowsy and fell asleep.
"Now because the bridegroom tarried, they all fell to nodding and went on sleeping.
6 At midnight the shout came, ‘Look, the bridegroom's here! Come out and meet him!’
"But at midnight there arose a cry, "‘Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him!’
7 All the girls got up and trimmed the wicks of their lamps. The foolish girls said to the wise ones,
"Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps;
8 ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ But the wise girls replied,
"and the foolish said to the wise, "‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9 ‘No, because otherwise there won't be enough for both you and for us. Go to the shopkeepers and buy some oil for yourselves.’
"‘Not so, answered the wise, ‘for there may not be enough for you and for us. Go to the shops, rather, and buy some for yourselves.’
10 While they went to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was locked shut.
"And 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.
11 The other girls came later. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they called, ‘Open the door for us!’
"Afterwards the other maidens came and cried, "‘Lord, Lord, open unto us!’
12 But he answered, ‘I tell you the truth: I don't know you.’
"‘In solemn truth I tell you,’ he replied, ‘I know you not.’
13 So stay alert, for you don't know the day, or the hour.
"Be watchful then, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
14 It's like a man who went away on a trip. He called in his servants and entrusted them with what he owned.
"For it is like a man going into another country, who summoned his slaves, and committed his property to their care.
15 To one of them he gave five talents, to another he gave two, and to another one, according to their different abilities. Then he left.
"To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another, one - to each according to his individual ability - and then set out on his travels.
16 Immediately the one with five talents went and invested them in a business, and made another five talents.
"At once the man who had received the five talents went out and traded with them, and made five talents more.
17 In the same way the one with two talents made another two.
"In the same way the one who got two talents made another two.
18 But the man who'd received the one talent went off and dug a hole and hid his master's money.
"But he who had received the one talent went off, and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
19 A long time later the master of those servants returned, and settled accounts with them.
"After a long time the master of those slaves came, and demanded a reckoning with them.
20 The one with five talents came and presented the other five talents. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘You gave me five talents. Look, I've made a profit of five talents.’
"The man who had received the five talents came, bringing five more, and said. "‘Master, five talents you entrusted to me; see, I have gained five more.’
21 His master said to him, ‘You've done well—you are a good, faithful servant. You have proved yourself trustworthy over small things, so now I'm placing you in charge over many things. Be happy because I'm really pleased with you!’
"‘Well done, good and faithful slave,’ replied his master; ‘You have been faithful over many things. Enter into your master’s joy.’
22 The one with two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘You gave me two talents. Look, I've made a profit of two talents.’
"The second, who had received the two talents, came up and said. "‘Master, it was two talents that you entrusted to me; see, I have gained two more.’
23 His master said to him, ‘You've done well—you are a good, faithful servant. You have proved trustworthy over small things, so now I'm placing you in charge over many things. Be happy because I'm really pleased with you!’
"‘Well done, good and faithful slave,’ his master replied, ‘You have been faithful over many things; enter into your master’s joy.’
24 Then the man with one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I know that you're a hard man. You reap where you didn't sow, and you harvest crops that you didn't plant.
"Then the man who had received the one talent came up and said. "‘Master, I knew you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown, and gathering where you had not scattered;
25 So since I was afraid of you I went and buried your talent in the ground. Look, you can have back what belongs to you.’
"so I was afraid; I went away and buried your talent in the earth. There, you have what belongs to you!’
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you think I reap where I don't sow, and harvest crops I didn't plant,
"‘You wicked and lazy slave,’ said his master. ‘You say you knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not scattered?
27 then you should have deposited my silver in the bank so that when I returned I could have had my money with interest.
"‘Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my property with interest.
28 Take the talent away from him, and give it to the one with ten talents.
"‘So take away the talent from him, and give it to the man who has ten talents.
29 For everyone who has will be given even more; and everyone who doesn't have anything, even what they have will be taken away from them.
"‘(For to every one who has, it shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.)
30 Now throw this useless servant out into the darkness where there'll be crying and gnashing of teeth.’
"‘But cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.’
31 But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his majestic throne.
"But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then will he take his seat on the throne of his glory;
32 Everyone will be brought before him. He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
"and all the nations will be gathered in his presence. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats;
33 He'll place the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left.
"and he will place the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left.
34 Then the king will say to the ones on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, and inherit the kingdom that's been prepared for you from the beginning of the world.
"Then he, the King will say to those on his right hand. "‘Come, my Father’s blessed ones, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in.
"‘For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in;
36 I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you visited me.’
"‘I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to see me.’
37 Then those who are right will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you, or thirsty and gave you a drink?
"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying. ‘Master, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink?
38 When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you?
"‘When did we see you a stranger and take you in; or naked and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’
"‘When did we see you sick or in prison, and come to see you?’
40 The king will tell them, ‘I tell you the truth: whatever you did for one of these of least importance you did for me.’
"‘In solemn truth I tell you,’ the King will answer them, ‘that inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, my brothers, you have done it unto me.’
41 He'll also say to those on his left, ‘Go away from me, you who are doomed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! (aiōnios g166)
"Then he will say to those also at his left hand. ‘Depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; (aiōnios g166)
42 For I was hungry and you didn't give me anything to eat. I was thirsty and you didn't give me a drink.
"for I was hungry, and you gave me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;
43 I was a stranger and you didn't invite me in. I was naked and you didn't clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you didn't visit me.’
"I was a stranger, and you took me not in; naked, and you clothed me not; sick, or in prison, and you visited me not.’
44 Then they will also answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't look after you?’
"Then will they also answer, ‘Master, when did we ever see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?’
45 Then he will tell them, ‘I tell you the truth: whatever you didn't do for one of these of least importance you didn't do for me.’
"But he will reply, ‘In solemn truth I tell you that inasmuch as you did not do it unto one of these least, you did not do it unto me.’
