The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like^(A) ten virgins who took their lamps^(B) and went out to meet the bridegroom.^{(C) 2} Five of them were foolish and five were wise.^{(D) 3} The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.^(E)

⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’^(F)

⁹ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.^(G) And the door was shut.

¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’^(H)

¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.^(I)

The Narrow and Wide Gates

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate.^(A) For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The Wise and Foolish Builders^(A)

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice^(B) is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

⁴ Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.^{(A) 5} For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.^(B)

⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.^(A)

⁴⁴ So you also must be ready,^(A) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed^(A) in his name,^(B) he gave the right to become children of God^(C)—

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness^(A) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.^{(B) 5} You are all children of the light^(C) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,^(D) but let us be awake^(E) and sober.^{(F) 7} For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.^{(G) 8} But since we belong to the day,^(H) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,^(I) and the hope of salvation^(J) as a helmet.^(K)

²³ May God himself, the God of peace,^(A) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul^(B) and body be kept blameless^(C) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(D) 24} The one who calls^(E) you is faithful,^(F) and he will do it.^(G)