Matthew 25
1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who, having taken their lamps, went forth to the bridegroom's gathering.
[Jesus continued by saying, “I will tell you something else about the time when I return from] heaven as king [MET]. [What will happen to many people who say that they know me will be] like [what happened to] ten virgins who took their lanterns and went to the place where they would meet a bridegroom [and go to his wedding celebration].
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish,
Five of the virgins were foolish and five of them were wise.
3 foolish women, who, having taken their lamps, took no olive oil with them.
The [virgins] who were foolish took their lanterns, but they did not take any [extra olive] oil [for] the lantern.
4 But the wise took olive oil in their vessels with their lamps.
But the [virgins] who were wise took oil in their flasks as well as in their lanterns.
5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
The bridegroom was delayed, [and it became late at night]. So all the virgins became sleepy and fell asleep.
6 But at midnight a shout occurred, Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go ye forth for his gathering.
In the middle of the night someone [woke them up by] shouting, ‘Hey! The bridegroom [is arriving]! Go outside and meet him!’
7 Then all those virgins were roused, and put their lamps in order.
So all the virgins got up and trimmed their lantern wicks [so that they would burn properly].
8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us from your olive oil, because our lamps are going out.
The foolish virgins said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your [olive] oil, because our lanterns are about to go out!’
9 But the wise answered, saying, Perhaps there may not be enough for us and you. But go ye rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.
The wise virgins replied, ‘[No, because] there might not be enough oil for our lanterns and for yours. Go to a store and buy some for yourselves!’
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And the prepared entered in with him for the wedding festivities, and the door was shut.
But while [the foolish virgins] were going to buy [some oil], the bridegroom arrived. So the [wise virgins], who were ready, went with the bridegroom to the wedding hall [where the bride was waiting]. Then the door was closed {someone closed the door [of that hall]}.
11 But afterward the other virgins also came, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Later, the rest of the virgins came [to the hall] and they called [to the bridegroom], ‘Sir, open [the door] for us!’
12 But having answered, he said, Truly I say to you, I know you not.
But he said [to them], ‘The truth is that I do not know you, so I [will not open the door for you]!’”
13 Watch therefore, because ye know not the day nor the hour in which the Son of man comes.
[Then Jesus continued by saying], “So, in order that [this will not happen to you], keep expecting [that I will return], because you do not know when [MTY] [it will be].”
14 For, like a man going on a journey, he called his own bondmen, and delivered to them the things possessed by him.
“[When I return from heaven as king, I will deal with those who say that they have been serving me like] a man who was about to go on a long journey dealt with his servants. He called them together and gave them each some of his wealth [to invest and gain more money for him].
15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his personal ability, and straightaway he journeyed.
He gave them money according to their ability [to take care of it]. [For example], he gave one servant 5,000 dollars, he gave another servant 2,000 dollars, and he gave another servant 1,000 dollars. Then he left on his journey.
16 And having departed, the man who received the five talents worked with them, and made five other talents.
The servant who had received 5,000 dollars went immediately and used that money to gain 5,000 dollars more.
17 And likewise also the man of the two gained two others.
Similarly, the servant who had [received] 2,000 dollars gained two [thousand dollars] more.
18 But having departed, the man who received the one dug in the ground, and hid his lord's silver.
But the servant who had received one [thousand dollars] went and dug a hole in the ground and hid the money there [to keep it safe].
19 Now after a long time the lord of those bondmen comes, and takes up accounting with them.
After a long time the servants’ boss returned. He [called them together to] find out what they had done with his money.
20 And having come, the man who received the five talents brought five other talents, saying, Lord, thou delivered five talents to me, lo, I have gained five other talents besides them.
The servant who had received 5,000 dollars brought two [bags, each containing] 5,000 dollars. He said, ‘Boss, you gave me 5,000 dollars to take care of. Look, I have gained 5,000 more!’
21 And his lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman. Thou were faithful over a few things, I will appoint thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
His boss replied, ‘[You are a very] good and faithful servant! [You have] done [very] well! You have faithfully handled a small [amount of money], so I will put you in charge of a lot of things. Come and be happy with me!’
22 And also having come, the man who received the two talents said, Lord, thou delivered two talents to me, lo, I have gained two other talents besides them.
The servant who had [received] 2,000 dollars also came and said, ‘Boss, you gave me 2,000 dollars to take care of. Look, I have gained 2,000 more!’
23 His lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman. Thou were faithful over a few things, I will appoint thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
His boss replied, ‘You are a [very] good and faithful servant! You have done very well! You have faithfully handled a small [amount of money], so I will put you in charge of a lot of things. Come and be happy with me!’
24 And the man who received the one talent also having come, said, Lord, I knew thee that thou are a hard man, reaping where thou did not sow, and gathering from where thou did not scatter.
Then the servant who had received 1,000 dollars came. He said, ‘Boss, I [was afraid of you]. I knew that you are a man who does not do foolish things with his money. [You even] take [from others money] that does not really belong to you, [like a farmer who] harvests [grain from another man’s field] where he did not even plant [the seeds].
25 And after being afraid, having gone, I hid thy talent in the ground. Lo, thou have thine own.
So because I was afraid [of what you would do to me if I did not make a profit from my business], I went out and hid your 1,000 dollars in the ground [to keep it safe]. Here, this is [the money] that belongs to you!’
26 But having answered, his lord said to him, Thou evil and lazy bondman, thou knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather from where I did not scatter.
His boss replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! (You knew that I take [from others money] that does not really belong to me, [like a farmer who] harvests [grain from another man’s field] where I did not even plant [the seeds]!/Did you not know that I [take from others money that does not really belong to me, like a farmer] who harvests [grain from another man’s field] where I did not even plant [the seeds]?) [RHQ]
27 Thou ought therefore to have placed my silver with the bankers, and having come I would have received back my own with interest.
So then, you should have put my money [on deposit] in a bank, so that when I returned I would get it back with the interest [it earned]!’
28 Take ye therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
[Then the boss said to his other servants], ‘Take the 1,000 dollars from him, and give it to [the servant] who has the 10,000 dollars!
29 For to every man who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away from him.
To those who [use well what] they have [received, God] will give more, and they will have plenty. But from those who [do] not [use well what they have received], even what they [already] have will be taken away.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable bondman into the outer darkness. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
Furthermore, throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where he will be [with those who are] wailing and gnashing their teeth [because they are in much pain].’”
31 But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy agents with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
“When I, the one who came from heaven, come again, I will be very radiant and [bring] all my angels with me. Then I will sit as a king on my wonderful throne [to judge people].
32 And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from each other, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
People from all nations [MTY] will be gathered in front of me {[The angels] will gather in front of me people from all nations}. Then I will separate them, one from another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from his goats.
33 And he will truly place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
I will put [the righteous people] on my right and [the unrighteous ones on my left, as a] shepherd puts sheep [on one side] and goats [on the other side].
34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Then I will say to those on my right, ‘You people who have been blessed by my Father {whom my Father has blessed}, come! From the time he created the world, he has been preparing to allow you to [receive the blessings that he will give to all those] who let him rule their lives. [Now is the time for] you to receive [those blessings]
35 For I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat. I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink. I was a stranger, and ye took me in,
[They belong to you], because you gave me something to eat when I was hungry. (OR, [They belong to you]. It is as though you gave me something to eat when I was hungry.) You gave me something to drink when I was thirsty. When I was a stranger [in your town], you invited me [to stay] in [your houses].
36 naked, and ye clothed me. I was feeble, and ye came to help me. I was in prison, and ye came to me.
When I needed clothes [MTY], you gave me some. When I was sick, you took care of me. When I was in prison, you came to visit me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungering, and fed thee, or thirsting, and gave thee drink?
Then the righteous people will reply, ‘Lord, when were you hungry and we saw you and gave you something to eat? When were you thirsty and we gave you something to drink?
38 And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in, or naked, and clothed thee?
When were you a stranger [in our town] and we invited you [to stay] in [our houses]? When did you need clothes and we gave you some?
39 And when did we see thee weak, or in prison, and came to thee?
When were you sick or in prison and we went to visit you?’ [We do not remember doing any of these things for you].
40 And having answered, the King will say to them, Truly I say to you, inasmuch as ye did it to one of these my brothers, the least, ye did it to me.
I will reply, ‘The truth is that whatever you did for any one of your fellow believers, even an unimportant one, [it was as though] you did it for me.’
41 Then he will also say to those at the left hand, Depart from me, ye accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his agents. (aiōnios g166)
Then I will say to those on my left, ‘You people who have been cursed [by God] {whom God has cursed}, leave me! Go into the eternal fire that God has prepared for (the devil/Satan) and his angels! (aiōnios g166)
42 For I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat, I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink,
[It is right for you to go there], because you did not give me anything to eat when I was hungry. You did not give me anything to drink when I was thirsty.
43 I was a stranger, and ye did not take me in, naked, and ye did not clothe me, weak, and in prison, and ye did not come to help me.
You did not invite me into [your homes] when I was a stranger [in your town]. You did not give me any clothes when I needed them [MTY]. You did not take care of me when I was sick or in prison.’
44 Then they will also answer, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or weak, or in prison, and did not serve thee?
They will answer, ‘Lord, when were you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and we did not help you?’
45 Then he will answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of these least, ye did it not to me.
I will reply, ‘The truth is that whenever you did not do anything to help any one of [my people], [even if they were] unimportant people, [it was as though] you did not do anything [to help] me.’
46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
Then those people [on my left] will go away to the place where [they] will be punished {[God] will punish them} eternally, but the righteous people will go to where they will live forever [with God].” (aiōnios g166)
