Matthew 25
1 The kingdom of heaven is like ten girls, who took their lamps with them to go and meet the bridegroom.
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five were foolish, and five were wise.
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 ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil.
4 while the wise took jars of oil with them as well as their lamps.
But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
5 The bridegroom took a long time and all the girls became drowsy and fell asleep.
When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 At midnight the shout came, ‘Look, the bridegroom's here! Come out and meet him!’
At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come 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 the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
8 ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ But the wise girls replied,
The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; 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.’
‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil 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.
But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.
11 The other girls came later. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they called, ‘Open the door for us!’
Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’
12 But he answered, ‘I tell you the truth: I don't know you.’
But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’
13 So stay alert, for you don't know the day, or the hour.
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or 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 just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions.
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 talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey.
16 Immediately the one with five talents went and invested them in a business, and made another five talents.
The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more.
17 In the same way the one with two talents made another two.
Likewise, the one with the two talents gained two more.
18 But the man who'd received the one talent went off and dug a hole and hid his master's money.
But the servant who had received the one talent went off, 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 servants returned to settle accounts 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 servant who had received the five talents came and presented five more. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. 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!’
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
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 servant who had received the two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. 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!’
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
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.
Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
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 and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, 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, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed.
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 should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest.
28 Take the talent away from him, and give it to the one with ten talents.
Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one 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 everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
30 Now throw this useless servant out into the darkness where there'll be crying and gnashing of teeth.’
And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and 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.
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.
32 Everyone will be brought before him. He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 He'll place the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left.
He will place the sheep on His right 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 the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, 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 something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to 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 looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited 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 the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to 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 visit 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.’
And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for 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 on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, 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 nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to 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 did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
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?’
And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we 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.’
Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’
