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.
Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish,
Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
3 foolish women, who, having taken their lamps, took no olive oil with them.
The foolish ones took their lamps, but took no oil with them;
4 But the wise took olive 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 bridegroom was late in coming, they all became drowsy, and slept.
6 But at midnight a shout occurred, Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go ye forth for his gathering.
But at midnight a shout was raised — ‘The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’
7 Then all those virgins were roused, and put their lamps in order.
Then all the bridesmaids awoke and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us from your olive oil, because 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, Perhaps there may not be enough for us and you. But go ye rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.
But the prudent ones answered ‘No, for fear that there will not be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell it, and buy 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 they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom came; and the bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the banquet, and the door was shut.
11 But afterward the other virgins also came, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Afterwards the other bridesmaids came. ‘Sir, Sir,’ they said, ‘open the door to us!’
12 But having answered, he said, Truly I say to you, I know you not.
But the bridegroom answered ‘I tell you, I do not know you.’
13 Watch therefore, because ye know not the day nor the hour in which the Son of man comes.
Therefore watch, since you know neither the Day nor the Hour.
14 For, like a man going on a journey, he called his own bondmen, and delivered to them the things possessed by him.
For it is as though a man, going on his travels, called his servants, and gave his property into their charge.
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 three thousand pounds to one, twelve hundred to another, and six hundred to a third, in proportion to the ability of each. Then he set out on his travels.
16 And having departed, the man who received the five talents worked with them, and made five other talents.
The man who had received the three thousand pounds went at once and traded with it, and made another three thousand.
17 And likewise also the man of the two gained two others.
So, too, the man who had received the twelve hundred pounds made another twelve hundred.
18 But having departed, the man who received the one dug in the ground, and hid his lord's silver.
But the man who had received the six hundred went and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
19 Now after a long time the lord of those bondmen comes, and takes up accounting with them.
After a long time the master of those servants returned, and settled accounts with them.
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 man who had received the three thousand pounds came up and brought three thousand more. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with three thousand pounds; look, I have made another three thousand!’
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.
‘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 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.
Then the one who had received the twelve hundred pounds came up and said ‘Sir, you entrusted me with twelve hundred pounds; look, I have made another twelve hundred!’
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.
‘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 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.
The man who had received the six hundred pounds 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 And after being afraid, having gone, I hid thy talent in the ground. Lo, thou have thine own.
and, in my fear, I went and hid your money in the ground; look, here is what 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.
‘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 Thou ought therefore to have placed my silver with the bankers, and having come I would 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 ye therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
‘Therefore,’ he continued, ‘take away from him the six hundred pounds, and give it to the one who has the six thousand.
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.
For, to him who has, more will be given, and he shall have abundance; but, as for him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable bondman into the outer darkness. There will be the weeping and the 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 agents 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 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.
and all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people — just as a shepherd separates sheep from goats —
33 And he will truly place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
placing the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left.
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 the King will say to those on his right ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, enter upon possession of the Kingdom prepared for you ever since the beginning of the world.
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,
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 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 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 thee hungering, and fed thee, or thirsting, and gave thee drink?
Then the Righteous will answer ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you? Or thirsty, and give you a drink?
38 And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in, or naked, and clothed thee?
When did we see you a stranger, and take you to our homes? Or naked, and clothe you?
39 And when did we see thee weak, or in prison, and came to thee?
When did we see you ill, or in prison, and come to 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.
And the King will reply ‘I tell you, as often as you did it to one of these my Brothers, however lowly, you did it to 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 he will say to those on his left ‘Go from my presence, accursed, into the ‘aeonian fire which has been prepared for the Devil 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,
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 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.
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 thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or weak, or in prison, and did not serve thee?
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, Truly I say to you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of these least, ye did it not to me.
And then he will reply ‘I tell you, as often as you failed to do it to one of these, however lowly, you failed to do it to me.’
