十个伴娘的比喻

25 “那时,天国就像十个伴娘提着灯去迎接新郎, 其中五个是糊涂的,五个是聪明的。 五个糊涂的只顾拿着灯,却不预备油; 那些聪明的不但拿着灯,还用器皿预备了足够的油。 新郎迟迟未到,她们等得困倦,便打盹睡着了。

“到了半夜,忽然听见有人喊道,‘新郎来了!出来迎接吧!’ 伴娘们醒来,把灯点亮。 糊涂的伴娘对聪明的伴娘说,‘请给我们一些油吧,因为我们的灯快要灭了!’

“聪明的伴娘回答说,‘不行,我们的油不够大家用的,你们去油店买吧!’

10 “当糊涂的伴娘去买油的时候,新郎来了。那些预备好的伴娘跟他一同进去参加婚宴,门就关了。 11 后来,其他伴娘回来了,喊道,‘主啊!主啊!请给我们开门吧!’

12 “新郎却说,‘我实在告诉你们,我不认识你们。’

13 “所以,你们要警醒,因为你们不知道我回来的日子和时辰。

才干的比喻

14 “天国就像一个人即将远行,他召来自己的奴仆,把产业托付给他们, 15 按各人的才干分别交给一个人五千银币,一个人两千银币,一个人一千银币,然后便离开了。 16 得到五千银币的立刻去做买卖,结果赚了五千; 17 得到两千银币的也赚了两千; 18 可是得到一千银币的却挖了一个洞,把主人的钱藏在地里。 19 过了很久,这些奴仆的主人回来了,要跟他们结帐。 20 得到五千银币的奴仆带来了另外的五千,说,‘主人,你交给我五千银币,请看,我又赚了五千。’

21 “主人说,‘做得好!你真是个又良善又忠心的奴仆。既然你在小事上忠心,我要把更大的事交给你。进来分享你主人的快乐吧!’

22 “得到两千银币的奴仆也上前说,‘主人,你交给我两千银币,请看,我又赚了两千。’

23 “主人说,‘做得好!你真是个又良善又忠心的奴仆,既然你在小事上忠心,我要把更大的事交给你。进来分享你主人的快乐吧!’

24 “得到一千银币的奴仆也上前说,‘主人,我知道你为人苛刻,没有播种的地方也要收割,没有撒种的地方也要收获。 25 我很害怕,就去把你的钱藏在地里。请看,这是你的钱。’

26 “主人说,‘你这又可恶又懒惰的奴仆!既然你知道我没有播种的地方也要收割,没有撒种的地方也要收获, 27 就应该把钱存入钱庄,等我回来时,可以连本带利还给我。’

28 “主人接着说,‘收回他的一千银币,赏给那个有一万银币的奴仆。 29 因为凡有的,还要给他更多,使他丰富有余;凡没有的,连他仅有的,也要夺去。 30 把这没用的奴仆扔进外边的黑暗里,他必在那里哀哭切齿。’

末日的审判

31 “当人子在祂的荣耀中与众天使降临的时候,祂要坐在荣耀的宝座上, 32 万民要聚集在祂面前。祂要把他们分开,就像牧人把绵羊和山羊分开一样。 33 祂要把绵羊放在右边,山羊放在左边。 34 那时,王会对右边的人说,‘我父所赐福的人啊,来承受创世以来为你们预备的国度吧。 35 因为我饥饿时,你们给我吃的;我口渴时,你们给我喝的;我身在异乡时,你们接待我; 36 我赤身露体时,你们给我穿的;我生病时,你们照顾我;我坐牢时,你们来看我。’

37 “那些义人会回答说,‘主啊!我们什么时候见你饿了就给你吃的?见你渴了就给你喝的? 38 见你身在异乡就接待你?见你赤身露体就给你穿的呢? 39 我们又什么时候见你生病或坐牢,就去看你呢?’

40 “王会回答说,‘我实在告诉你们,你们帮助我最卑微的一个弟兄,就是帮助我了。’

41 “王又对左边的人说,‘你们这些被咒诅的人,走开!到专为魔鬼及其使者预备的永远不灭的火里去吧! 42 因为我饥饿时,你们不给我吃的;我口渴时,你们不给我喝的; 43 我身在异乡时,你们不接待我;我赤身露体时,你们不给我衣服;我生病时,你们不照顾我;我坐牢时,你们不来看我。’

44 “他们会问,‘主啊,我们什么时候见你饿了,或渴了,或身在异乡,或赤身露体,或病了,或坐牢,却没有帮助你呢?’

45 “王会回答说,‘我实在告诉你们,你们没有帮助我最卑微的一个弟兄,就是没有帮助我。’ 46 这些人要受永远的刑罚,但义人要得到永远的生命。”

十个姑娘的寓言

25 “那时,天国像十个年轻姑娘,带着各自的油灯,去见新郎。 她们其中有五个姑娘很愚蠢,另外五个姑娘很聪明。 愚蠢的姑娘带了油灯,却没有带备用油。 聪明的姑娘把灯油装在罐子里和灯一起带来了。 新郎迟迟不露面,姑娘们非常困倦,便睡着了。

“半夜,突然有人喊∶‘新郎到了!快去见他。’

“这时姑娘们都醒过来,把油灯准备好。 可是愚蠢的姑娘们对聪明的姑娘们说∶‘把你们的灯油分给我们一点吧,我们的灯油没有了。’

“聪明的姑娘回答说∶‘不行呀,我们的油不够分给你们。你们到卖油的那里去买油吧。’

10 “就在愚蠢的姑娘去买油的时候,新郎到了。于是五个准备好了的姑娘,与新郎一起参加婚宴去了。然后人们就把门锁上了。

11 “其他的姑娘回来说∶‘先生,先生,劳驾给我们开门!’

12 “但是新郎回答说∶‘说实话,我不认识你们!’

13 “所以你们要保持警醒,因为你们不知道人子会在何时何日降临。

三个奴仆的寓言

14 “天国就像一个要离家出门旅行的人,他叫来他的奴仆,让他们看管他的财产。 15 他根据各人的能力,按比例把财产分给他们管理。他给第一个奴仆五袋银币 [a],给第二个奴仆两袋银币,给第三个奴仆一袋银币,然后出门了。 16 得到五袋银币的奴仆立刻着手工作,用这五袋银币赚回了五袋银币; 17 同样,得到两袋银币的奴仆也赚回两袋银币; 18 但是得到一袋银币的奴仆出去在地上挖了个坑,把主人的钱藏了进去。

19 “过了很长一段时间,主人回来了,跟他们结帐。 20 得到五袋银币的奴仆走到主人面前,多交上五袋银币。他说∶‘主人,您让我掌管五袋银币,我用它们赚回了五袋银币。’

21 “主人对他说∶‘干得好!你是个值得信赖的好奴仆。你在小数量的钱上值得信赖,我会让你管理更多的事情,进来和我一起分享快乐吧!’

22 “得了两袋银子的奴仆走过来,说∶‘主人,你让我掌管两袋银币,我用它们赚回了两袋银币。’

23 “主人对他说∶‘干得好!你是个值得信赖的好奴仆,你在小数量的钱上值得信赖,我会交给你管理更多的事情,进来和我一起分享快乐吧!’

24 “得了一袋银子的奴仆走过来说∶‘我知道您是个苛刻的人,您要在没有栽种过的地里收获,在没有播种的田里收庄稼, 25 我害怕,所以我找了个地方,把您的银币埋在那里。这就是你给我的那袋钱。’

26 “主人对他说∶‘你这个懒惰的恶奴!你知道我在没有栽种过的地里收获,在没有播种的田里收庄稼, 27 那么你就该把我的钱存进银行,这样在我回来的时候,至少还能得到我的钱生出的利息。 28 你们把这袋银子拿走,交给那个掌管十袋银币的奴仆。 29 只有充分利用手中一切的人,才能得到更多的东西,甚至得到比他所需要的还要多。如果不充分利用自己所有的人,甚至连他所有的一切也会被拿走。 30 你们把这个没用的奴仆赶到黑暗里去,在那里人们都将切齿痛哭。’

人子耶稣将审判所有的人

31 “人子将带着他的天使在荣耀中降临人间,坐在他辉煌的宝座上。 32 世上的人们都将聚集到他面前。他将把他们分开,就像牧羊人把绵羊和山羊分开一样。 33 他把绵羊放在他右边,把山羊放在左边。

34 “然后,王将对他右边的人说∶‘过来,你们这些人得到了我父的祝福,继承自从创世以来为你们准备好了的天国。 35 你们能有它,是因为当我饥饿时,你们给我食物;当我口渴时,你们给我水喝;当我独在异乡时,你们邀请我到你们家里; 36 当我衣不蔽体时,你们给我衣服穿;当我生病时,你们照料我;当我坐牢时,你们来看望我。’

37 “正直的人会对他说∶‘主啊,我们什么时候看见您饿了给您吃的?什么时候看见您渴了给您喝的? 38 什么时候看见您独在异乡时留您住宿了呢?什么时候看见您衣不蔽体而给您衣服穿了呢? 39 我们又在什么时候看见您病了或者坐牢而来看望过您呢?’

40 “王回答他们说∶‘我实话告诉你们,不论什么时候,你们帮助我这些最卑微的兄弟中的任何一个人,你们就是在帮助我。’

41 “接着,王对他左边的人说∶‘走开,你们这些上帝决定要惩罚的人,到那永不熄灭的烈火中去吧,那是为魔鬼和他们的天使准备的。 42 因为我饥饿时,你们没有给我食物;我口渴时,你们没有给我水喝; 43 我独在异乡时,你们没有留我住宿,我衣不蔽体时,你们没有给我衣服穿;我生病和坐牢时,你们没有来照顾我。’

44 “那些人回答说∶‘主啊,我们什么时候看见您饿了、渴了,独在异乡,没有衣服穿,生病或坐牢而没有帮助您呢?’

45 “王会对他们说∶‘我实话告诉你们,不论什么时候,你们拒绝帮助这些最卑微的人中的任何一个,就是在拒绝帮助我。’

46 “于是,那些邪恶之人将去得到永久的惩罚,而正直的人将获得永生。”

Footnotes

  1. 馬 太 福 音 25:15 五袋银币: 直译五个塔兰特。一个塔兰特相当于30000个迪纳里,一个迪纳里相当于一个劳力一天的工钱。

25 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids[a] who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2-4 But only five of them were wise enough to fill their lamps with oil, while the other five were foolish and forgot.

5-6 “So, when the bridegroom was delayed, they lay down to rest until midnight, when they were roused by the shout, ‘The bridegroom is coming! Come out and welcome him!’

7-8 “All the girls jumped up and trimmed their lamps. Then the five who hadn’t any oil begged the others to share with them, for their lamps were going out.

“But the others replied, ‘We haven’t enough. Go instead to the shops and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were gone, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.

11 “Later, when the other five returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Sir, open the door for us!’

12 “But he called back, ‘Go away! It is too late!’[b]

13 “So stay awake and be prepared, for you do not know the date or moment of my return.[c]

14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going into another country, who called together his servants and loaned them money to invest for him while he was gone.

15 “He gave $5,000 to one, $2,000 to another, and $1,000 to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities—and then left on his trip. 16 The man who received the $5,000 began immediately to buy and sell with it and soon earned another $5,000. 17 The man with $2,000 went right to work, too, and earned another $2,000.

18 “But the man who received the $1,000 dug a hole in the ground and hid the money for safekeeping.

19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to him to account for his money. 20 The man to whom he had entrusted the $5,000 brought him $10,000.

21 “His master praised him for good work. ‘You have been faithful in handling this small amount,’ he told him, ‘so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Begin the joyous tasks I have assigned to you.’

22 “Next came the man who had received the $2,000, with the report, ‘Sir, you gave me $2,000 to use, and I have doubled it.’

23 “‘Good work,’ his master said. ‘You are a good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over this small amount, so now I will give you much more.’

24-25 “Then the man with the $1,000 came and said, ‘Sir, I knew you were a hard man, and I was afraid you would rob me of what I earned,[d] so I hid your money in the earth and here it is!’

26 “But his master replied, ‘Wicked man! Lazy slave! Since you knew I would demand your profit, 27 you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. 28 Take the money from this man and give it to the man with the $10,000. 29 For the man who uses well what he is given shall be given more, and he shall have abundance. But from the man who is unfaithful, even what little responsibility he has shall be taken from him. 30 And throw the useless servant out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

31 “But when I, the Messiah,[e] shall come in my glory, and all the angels with me, then I shall sit upon my throne of glory. 32 And all the nations shall be gathered before me. And I will separate the people[f] as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and place the sheep at my right hand, and the goats at my left.

34 “Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; 36 naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? 38 Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’

40 “And I, the King, will tell them, ‘When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me!’ 41 Then I will turn to those on my left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry and you wouldn’t feed me; thirsty, and you wouldn’t give me anything to drink; 43 a stranger, and you refused me hospitality; naked, and you wouldn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

45 “And I will answer, ‘When you refused to help the least of these my brothers, you were refusing help to me.’

46 “And they shall go away into eternal punishment; but the righteous into everlasting life.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 25:1 bridesmaids, literally, “virgins.”
  2. Matthew 25:12 It is too late, literally, “I know you not.”
  3. Matthew 25:13 of my return, implied.
  4. Matthew 25:24 and I was afraid you would rob me of what I earned, literally, “reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter, and I was afraid.”
  5. Matthew 25:31 the Messiah, literally, “the Son of Man.”
  6. Matthew 25:32 separate the people, literally, “separate the nations.”

25 `Then shall the reign of the heavens be likened to ten virgins, who, having taken their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom;

and five of them were prudent, and five foolish;

they who were foolish having taken their lamps, did not take with themselves oil;

and the prudent took oil in their vessels, with their lamps.

`And the bridegroom tarrying, they all nodded and were sleeping,

and in the middle of the night a cry was made, Lo, the bridegroom doth come; go ye forth to meet him.

`Then rose all those virgins, and trimmed their lamps,

and the foolish said to the prudent, Give us of your oil, because our lamps are going out;

and the prudent answered, saying -- Lest there may not be sufficient for us and you, go ye rather unto those selling, and buy for yourselves.

10 `And while they are going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those ready went in with him to the marriage-feasts, and the door was shut;

11 and afterwards come also do the rest of the virgins, saying, Sir, sir, open to us;

12 and he answering said, Verily I say to you, I have not known you.

13 `Watch therefore, for ye have not known the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man doth come.

14 `For -- as a man going abroad did call his own servants, and did deliver to them his substance,

15 and to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each according to his several ability, went abroad immediately.

16 `And he who did receive the five talents, having gone, wrought with them, and made other five talents;

17 in like manner also he who [received] the two, he gained, also he, other two;

18 and he who did receive the one, having gone away, digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

19 `And after a long time cometh the lord of those servants, and taketh reckoning with them;

20 and he who did receive the five talents having come, brought other five talents, saying, `Sir, five talents thou didst deliver to me; lo, other five talents did I gain besides them.

21 `And his lord said to him, Well done, servant, good and faithful, over a few things thou wast faithful, over many things I will set thee; enter into the joy of thy lord.

22 `And he who also did receive the two talents having come, said, Sir, two talents thou didst deliver to me; lo, other two talents I did gain besides them.

23 `His lord said to him, Well done, servant, good and faithful, over a few things thou wast faithful, over many things I will set thee; enter into the joy of thy lord.

24 `And he also who hath received the one talent having come, said, Sir, I knew thee, that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering from whence thou didst not scatter;

25 and having been afraid, having gone away, I hid thy talent in the earth; lo, thou hast thine own!

26 `And his lord answering said to him, Evil servant, and slothful, thou hadst known that I reap where I did not sow, and I gather whence I did not scatter!

27 it behoved thee then to put my money to the money-lenders, and having come I had received mine own with increase.

28 `Take therefore from him the talent, and give to him having the ten talents,

29 for to every one having shall be given, and he shall have overabundance, and from him who is not having, even that which he hath shall be taken from him;

30 and the unprofitable servant cast ye forth to the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.

31 `And whenever the Son of Man may come in his glory, and all the holy messengers with him, then he shall sit upon a throne of his glory;

32 and gathered together before him shall be all the nations, and he shall separate them from one another, as the shepherd doth separate the sheep from the goats,

33 and he shall set the sheep indeed on his right hand, and the goats on the left.

34 `Then shall the king say to those on his right hand, Come ye, the blessed of my Father, inherit the reign that hath been prepared for you from the foundation of the world;

35 for I did hunger, and ye gave me to eat; I did thirst, and ye gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and ye received me;

36 naked, and ye put around me; I was infirm, and ye looked after me; in prison I was, and ye came unto me.

37 `Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungering, and we nourished? or thirsting, and we gave to drink?

38 and when did we see thee a stranger, and we received? or naked, and we put around?

39 and when did we see thee infirm, or in prison, and we came unto thee?

40 `And the king answering, shall say to them, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] to one of these my brethren -- the least -- to me ye did [it].

41 Then shall he say also to those on the left hand, Go ye from me, the cursed, to the fire, the age-during, that hath been prepared for the Devil and his messengers;

42 for I did hunger, and ye gave me not to eat; I did thirst, and ye gave me not to drink;

43 a stranger I was, and ye did not receive me; naked, and ye put not around me; infirm, and in prison, and ye did not look after me.

44 `Then shall they answer, they also, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or infirm, or in prison, and we did not minister to thee?

45 `Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of these, the least, ye did [it] not to me.

46 And these shall go away to punishment age-during, but the righteous to life age-during.'