Matthew 24:45-25:30

English Standard Version

⁴⁵ “Who then is ^(A)the faithful and ^(B)wise servant,^[a] whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? ^46 (C)Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁷ Truly, I say to you, ^(D)he will set him over all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master ^(E)is delayed,’ ⁴⁹ and begins to beat his fellow servants^[b] and eats and drinks with ^(F)drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that servant will come ^(G)on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know ⁵¹ and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place ^(H)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ^(I)ten virgins who took their lamps^[c] and went to meet ^(J)the bridegroom.^{[d] 2} Five of them were foolish, and five were ^(K)wise. ³ For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, ⁴ but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ As the bridegroom ^(L)was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. ⁶ But ^(M)at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all those virgins rose and ^(N)trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and ^(O)those who were ready went in with him to ^(P)the marriage feast, and ^(Q)the door was shut. ¹¹ Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ^(R)‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ^12 (S)But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, ^(T)I do not know you.’ ^13 (U)Watch therefore, for you ^(V)know neither the day nor the hour.

The Parable of the Talents

^14 (W)“For ^(X)it will be like a man ^(Y)going on a journey, who called his servants^[e] and entrusted to them his property. ¹⁵ To one he gave five ^(Z)talents,^[f] to another two, to another one, ^(AA)to each according to his ability. Then he ^(AB)went away. ¹⁶ He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. ¹⁷ So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. ¹⁸ But he who had received the one talent went and ^(AC)dug in the ground and hid his master's money. ¹⁹ Now ^(AD)after a long time the master of those servants came and ^(AE)settled accounts with them. ²⁰ And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and ^(AF)faithful servant.^{[g] (AG)}You have been faithful over a little; ^(AH)I will set you over much. Enter into ^(AI)the joy of your master.’ ²² And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be ^(AJ)a hard man, reaping ^(AK)where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, ²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, ^(AL)you have what is yours.’ ²⁶ But his master answered him, ‘You ^(AM)wicked and ^(AN)slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? ²⁷ Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. ^29 (AO)For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And ^(AP)cast ^(AQ)the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place ^(AR)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’