Matthew 25
1 [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].
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of the virgins were foolish and five of them were wise.
And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 The [virgins] who were foolish took their lanterns, but they did not take any [extra olive] oil [for] the lantern.
For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them:
4 But the [virgins] who were wise took oil in their flasks as well as in their lanterns.
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 The bridegroom was delayed, [and it became late at night]. So all the virgins became sleepy and fell asleep.
Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 In the middle of the night someone [woke them up by] shouting, ‘Hey! The bridegroom [is arriving]! Go outside and meet him!’
But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.
7 So all the virgins got up and trimmed their lantern wicks [so that they would burn properly].
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish virgins said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your [olive] oil, because our lanterns are about to go out!’
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.
9 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!’
But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 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]}.
And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut.
11 Later, the rest of the virgins came [to the hall] and they called [to the bridegroom], ‘Sir, open [the door] for us!’
Afterward come also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he said [to them], ‘The truth is that I do not know you, so I [will not open the door for you]!’”
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 [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].”
Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.
14 “[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].
For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 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.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.
16 The servant who had received 5,000 dollars went immediately and used that money to gain 5,000 dollars more.
Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents.
17 Similarly, the servant who had [received] 2,000 dollars gained two [thousand dollars] more.
In like manner he also that [received] the two gained other two.
18 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].
But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the servants’ boss returned. He [called them together to] find out what they had done with his money.
Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them.
20 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!’
And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents.
21 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!’
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 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!’
And he also that [received] the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents.
23 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!’
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 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].
And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter:
25 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!’
and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own.
26 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]
But 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 did not scatter;
27 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]!’
thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest.
28 [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!
Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents.
29 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.
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.
30 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].’”
And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 “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].
But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:
32 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.
and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats:
33 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].
and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 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]
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 [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].
for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in;
36 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.’
naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 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?
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink?
38 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?
And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 When were you sick or in prison and we went to visit you?’ [We do not remember doing any of these things for you].
And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 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.’
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, [even] these least, ye did it unto me.
41 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)
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: (aiōnios g166)
42 [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.
for I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 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.’
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 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?’
Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 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.’
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me.
46 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)
And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
