| 1 | Then 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 traveling 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 a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed: |
| 25 | And 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 strewed: |
| 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 everyone 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 hungry, 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 hungry, 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 hungry, 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 hungry, 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. |