< Matthew 25 >
1 Then the kingdome of heauen shalbe likened vnto tenne virgins, which tooke their lampes, and went foorth to meete the bridegrome.
‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.
2 And fiue of them were wise, and fiue foolish.
Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
3 The foolish tooke their lampes, but tooke none oyle with them.
The foolish ones took their lamps, but took no oil with them;
4 But the wise tooke oyle in their vessels with their lampes.
while the prudent ones, besides taking their lamps, took oil in their jars.
5 Nowe while the bridegrome taried long, all slumbred and slept.
As the groom was late in coming, they all became drowsy, and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a crie made, Behold, the bridegrome commeth: goe out to meete him.
But at midnight a shout was raised – “The groom is coming! Come out to meet him!”
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lampes.
Then all the bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps,
8 And the foolish said to the wise, Giue vs of your oyle, for our lampes are 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, Not so, lest there will not be ynough for vs and you: but goe ye rather to them that sell, and bye for your selues.
But the prudent ones answered “No, There may 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 bye, the bridegrome came: and they that were readie, went in with him to the wedding, and the gate was shut.
But while they were on their way to buy it, the groom came; and the bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the banquet, and the door was shut.
11 Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to vs.
Afterwards the other bridesmaids came. “Sir, Sir,” they said, “open the door to us!”
12 But he answered, and said, Verely I say vnto you, I knowe you not.
But the groom answered “I tell you, I do not know you.”
13 Watch therfore: for ye know neither the day, nor the houre, when the sonne of man will come.
Therefore watch, since you know neither the day nor the hour.
14 For the kingdome of heauen is as a man that going into a strange countrey, called his seruants, and deliuered to them his goods.
‘For it is as though a man, going on his travels, called his servants, and gave his property into their charge.
15 And vnto one he gaue fiue talents, and to an other two, and to another one, to euery man after his own ability, and straightway went from home.
He gave five bags of gold to one, two to another, and one bag to a third, in proportion to the ability of each. Then he set out on his travels.
16 Then he that had receiued the fiue talents, went and occupied with them, and gained other fiue talents.
The servant who had received the five bags of gold went at once and traded with it, and made another five bags.
17 Likewise also, he that receiued two, he also gained other two.
So, too, the servant who had received the two bags of gold made another two bags.
18 But he that receiued that one, went and digged it in the earth, and hid his masters money.
But the servant who had received the one bag went and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
19 But after a long season, the master of those seruants came, and reckoned with them.
After a long time the master of those servants returned, and settled accounts with them.
20 Then came he that had receiued fiue talents, and brought other fiue talents, saying, Master, thou deliueredst vnto me fiue talents: behold, I haue gained with them other fiue talents.
The servant who had received the five bags of gold came up and brought five bags more. “Sir,” he said, “you entrusted me with five bags of gold; look, I have made another five bags!”
21 Then his master saide vnto him, It is well done good seruant and faithfull, Thou hast bene faithfull in litle, I will make thee ruler ouer much: enter into thy masters ioy.
“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 Also he that had receiued two talents, came, and said, Master, thou deliueredst vnto me two talents: behold, I haue gained two other talets more.
Then the one who had received the two bags of gold came up and said “Sir, you entrusted me with two bags pounds; look, I have made another two!”
23 His master saide vnto him, It is well done good seruant, and faithfull, Thou hast bene faithfull in litle, I will make thee ruler ouer much: enter into thy masters ioy.
“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 Then he which had receiued the one talent, came, and said, Master, I knewe that thou wast an hard man, which reapest where thou sowedst not, and gatherest where thou strawedst not:
The man who had received the single bag of gold 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 I was therefore afraide, and went, and hid thy talent in the earth: behold, thou hast thine owne.
and, in my fear, I went and hid your money in the ground; look, here is what belongs to you!”
26 And his master answered, and said vnto him, Thou euill seruant, and slouthfull, thou knewest that I reape where I sowed not, and gather where I strawed not.
“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 oughtest therefore to haue put my money to ye exchangers, and then at my comming should I haue receiued mine owne with vantage.
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 therefore the talent from him, and giue it vnto him which hath tenne talents.
Therefore,” he continued, “take away from him the one bag of gold, and give it to the one who has the ten bags.
29 For vnto euery man that hath, it shall be giuen, and he shall haue abundance, and from him that hath not, euen that he hath, shalbe taken away.
For, to him who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but, as for him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him.
30 Cast therefore that vnprofitable seruant into vtter darkenes: there shalbe weeping and gnasshing of teeth.
As for the useless servant, put him out into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”
31 And when the Sonne of man commeth in his glory, and all the holy Angels with him, then shall he sit vpon the throne of his glorie,
‘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 before him shalbe gathered all nations, and he shall seperate them one from another, as a shepheard separateth the sheepe from ye goates.
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 shall set the sheepe on his right hand, and the goates on the left.
placing the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left.
34 Then shall ye king say to them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my father: take the inheritance of the kingdome 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 into possession of the kingdom prepared for you ever since the beginning of the world.
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gaue me meate: I thirsted, and ye gaue me drinke: I was a stranger, and ye tooke me in vnto you.
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 I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sicke, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came vnto 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 shall the righteous answere him, saying, Lord, when sawe we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or a thirst, and gaue thee drinke?
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 sawe we thee a stranger, and tooke thee in vnto vs? or naked, and clothed thee?
When did we see you a stranger, and take you to our homes? Or naked, and clothe you?
39 Or when sawe we thee sicke, or in prison, and came vnto thee?
When did we see you ill, or in prison, and come to you?”
40 And the King shall answere, and say vnto them, Verely I say vnto you, in as much as ye haue done it vnto one of the least of these my brethre, ye haue done it to me.
And the king will reply “I tell you, as often as you did it to one of these my brothers or sisters, however unimportant they seemed, you did it to me.”
41 Then shall he say vnto them on ye left hand, Depart from me ye cursed, into euerlasting fire, which is prepared for the deuill and his angels. (aiōnios )
Then he will say to those on his left “Go from my presence, accursed, into the permanent fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels. (aiōnios )
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gaue me no meate: I thirsted, and ye gaue me no drinke:
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 tooke me not in vnto you: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: sicke, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
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 shall they also answere him, saying, Lord, when sawe we thee an hungred, or a thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sicke, or in prison, and did not minister vnto 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 shall he answere them, and say, Verely I say vnto you, in as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, 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 unimportant, you failed to do it to me.”
46 And these shall goe into euerlasting paine, and the righteous into life eternall. (aiōnios )
And these last will go away into lasting correction, but the righteous into lasting life.’ (aiōnios )