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, will the kingdom of the heavens become like unto, ten virgins, who, taking their torches, went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of the virgins were foolish and five of them were wise.
Now, five of them, were foolish, and, five, prudent.
3 The [virgins] who were foolish took their lanterns, but they did not take any [extra olive] oil [for] the lantern.
For, the foolish—though they took, their torches, took not with them, oil:
4 But the [virgins] who were wise took oil in their flasks as well as in their lanterns.
But, the prudent, took oil in their vessels, with their torches.
5 The bridegroom was delayed, [and it became late at night]. So all the virgins became sleepy and fell asleep.
Now, the bridegroom, delaying, they all became drowsy, and were sleeping.
6 In the middle of the night someone [woke them up by] shouting, ‘Hey! The bridegroom [is arriving]! Go outside and meet him!’
And, at midnight, an outcry hath been made—Lo! the bridegroom! Be going forth to meet him!
7 So all the virgins got up and trimmed their lantern wicks [so that they would burn properly].
Then, arose all those virgins, and trimmed their torches.
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, unto the prudent, said—Give us of your oil, because, our torches, 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 prudent, answered, saying—Lest once, by any means, there be not enough for us and you, be going rather unto 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]}.
But, as they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came; and, they who were ready, went in with him, into the marriage-feast, and, the door was locked.
11 Later, the rest of the virgins came [to the hall] and they called [to the bridegroom], ‘Sir, open [the door] for us!’
But, afterwards, came the other virgins also, saying—Lord! Lord! open unto 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]!’”
And, he, answering, 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].”
Be watching, therefore, because ye know, neither 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, just as a man, who, going from home, called his own servants, and delivered up to them his substance;
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, to one, indeed, gave he five talents, and, to another, two, and, to another, one, —to each according to his particular ability, and went from home.
16 The servant who had received 5,000 dollars went immediately and used that money to gain 5,000 dollars more.
Straightway, he who, the five talents, had received, went and traded with them, and gained other five:
17 Similarly, the servant who had [received] 2,000 dollars gained two [thousand dollars] more.
Likewise, he of 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 who the one had received, went away, and digged up ground, and hid the silver of his lord.
19 After a long time the servants’ boss returned. He [called them together to] find out what they had done with his money.
And, after a long time, cometh the lord of those servants, and reckoneth 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 who the five talents had received, coming forward, brought other five talents, saying, —Lord! five talents, to me, thou didst deliver up: See! other five talents, I gained.
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, —Over a few things wast thou faithful, over many things, will I appoint thee: Enter 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!’
He also of the two talents, coming forward, said—Lord! two talents, to me, didst thou deliver up: See! other two talents, I gained.
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, —Over a few things, wast thou faithful, over many things, will I appoint thee: Enter 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].
But he also who, the one talent, had received, coming forward, said—Lord I knew thee, that thou art a, hard, man, reaping, where thou hast not sown, —and gathering, whence thou hast not winnowed;
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, overcome with fear, I went away, and hid thy talent in the ground: See! thou hast what is thine!
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]
And his lord, answering, said unto him—O wicked servant, and cowardly, knewest thou that I reap, where I have not sown, and gather, whence I have not winnowed?
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]!’
It was binding on thee, therefore, to cast my silver into the money-changers, —and, I, when I, came, might have obtained what was mine, 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!
Therefore take away, from him, the talent, and give 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, to every one that hath, shall be given, and he shall be made to abound; but, from him that hath not, even what he hath, shall be taken away from him:
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, the unprofitable servant, cast ye forth into the darkness, outside: There, shall be wailing 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, whensoever the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the messengers with him, then will he sit on his throne of 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 there will be gathered before him, all the nations, and he will separate them one from another, just 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 will set, the sheep, indeed, 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, will the king say to those on his right hand: Come ye, the 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 hungered, and ye gave me to eat, I thirsted, and ye gave me drink, a stranger, was I, and ye took me home,
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, sick, and ye visited me, in prison, was I, 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, will the righteous answer him, saying: Lord! when, saw we thee—hungry, and fed thee, or thirsty, 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 home, 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, answering, the king will say unto them: Verily, I say unto you—Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my least brethren, unto me, ye did it.
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, will he say unto those also, on his left hand: Depart ye from me, accursed ones! Into the age-abiding fire, which hath been prepared for the adversary and his messengers; (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 hungered, and ye gave me not to eat, [and] I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to 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.’
A stranger, was I, and ye took me not home, 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, will, they also, answer, saying: Lord! when saw we thee—hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and ministered not 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, will he answer them, saying: Verily, I say unto you—Inasmuch as ye did it not, unto one of these least, neither unto me, did ye it.
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, age-abiding, correction, but, the righteous, into, age-abiding, life. (aiōnios g166)
