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Parable of Ten Virgins

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went to [a]meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish [thoughtless, silly, and careless], and five were wise [far-sighted, practical, and sensible]. For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all began to nod off, and they fell asleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! The bridegroom [is coming]! Go out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order [trimmed the wicks and added oil and lit them]. But the foolish virgins said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No, otherwise there will not be enough for us and for you, too; go instead to the dealers and buy oil for yourselves.’ 10 But while they were going away to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut and locked. 11 Later the others also came, and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open [the door] for us.’ 12 But He replied, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I do not know you [we have no relationship].’ 13 Therefore, be on the alert [be prepared and ready], for you do not know the day nor the hour [when the Son of Man will come].

Parable of the Talents

14 “For it is just like a man who was about to take a journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his possessions.(A) 15 To one he gave five [b]talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and then he went on his journey. 16 The one who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he [made a profit and] gained five more. 17 Likewise the one who had two [made a profit and] gained two more. 18 But the one who had received the one went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 And the one who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted to me five talents. See, I have [made a profit and] gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’

22 “Also the one who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have [made a profit and] gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’

24 “The one who had received one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a harsh and demanding man, reaping [the harvest] where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed. 25 So I was afraid [to lose the talent], and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is your own.’

26 “But his master answered him, ‘You wicked, lazy servant, you knew that I reap [the harvest] where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money with the bankers, and at my return I would have received my money back with interest. 28 So take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

29 “For to everyone who has [and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely], more will be given, and [he will be richly supplied so that] he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have [because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God], even what he does have will be taken away.(B) 30 And throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place [of grief and torment] there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].

The Judgment

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory and majesty and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.(C) 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him [for judgment]; and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats;(D) 33 and He will put the sheep on His right [the place of honor], and the goats on His left [the place of rejection].

34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God, appointed to eternal salvation], inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me [with help and ministering care]; I was in prison, and you came to Me [ignoring personal danger].’(E) 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it for Me.’(F)

41 “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons); 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me [with help and ministering care].’ 44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will reply to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these [my followers], you did not do it for Me.’(G) 46 Then these [unbelieving people] will go away into eternal (unending) punishment, but those who are righteous and in right standing with God [will go, by His remarkable grace] into eternal (unending) life.”(H)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 25:1 In a procession, the bridegroom and his friends brought the bride from her father’s house to his house where the wedding feast was prepared.
  2. Matthew 25:15 A talent was a measurement of weight, usually 58-80 pounds. One talent of silver was worth more than 15 years’ wages. One talent of gold was worth even more.

25  At that time tote the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos will be like homoioō ten deka virgins parthenos who hostis took lambanō · ho their heautou torches lampas and went exerchomai out to eis meet hypantēsis the ho bridegroom nymphios. Now de five pente of ek them autos were eimi foolish mōros and kai five pente were wise phronimos. For gar when the ho foolish mōros took lambanō · ho their autos torches lampas, they did not ou take lambanō oil elaion with meta them heautou. But de the ho wise phronimos took lambanō oil elaion in en · ho containers angeion along with meta · ho their heautou torches lampas. Now de since the ho bridegroom nymphios was slow chronizō in coming , they all pas became drowsy nystazō and kai fell asleep katheudō. But de at mesos midnight nyx there was ginomai a shout kraugē, ‘ Look idou, the ho bridegroom nymphios! Come exerchomai out to eis meet apantēsis him autos.’ Then tote all pas those ekeinos virgins parthenos woke egeirō up · ho and kai prepared kosmeō · ho their heautou torches lampas. The ho · de foolish mōros said legō to the ho wise phronimos, ‘ Give didōmi us hēmeis some ek of ho your hymeis oil elaion, because hoti · ho our hēmeis torches lampas are going sbennymi out .’ But de the ho wise phronimos answered apokrinomai, saying legō, ‘ Perhaps mēpote there will not ou mē be enough arkeō for both us hēmeis and kai you hymeis, so go poreuō rather mallon to pros the ho dealers pōleō and kai buy agorazō some for yourselves heautou.’ 10 And de while they autos were away aperchomai buying agorazō it, the ho bridegroom nymphios came erchomai and kai the ho virgins who were ready hetoimos went eiserchomai in with meta him autos to eis the ho wedding gamos feast , and kai the ho door thura was shut kleiō. 11 Later hysteros · de the ho other loipos virgins parthenos came erchomai, · kai saying legō, ‘ Sir kyrios! Sir kyrios! Open anoigō the door for us hēmeis.’ 12 But de he ho replied apokrinomai, saying legō, ‘ I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, I do not ou know oida you hymeis!’ 13 Therefore oun stay grēgoreō alert , because hoti you know oida neither ou the ho day hēmera nor oude the ho hour hōra.

14  For gar the kingdom of heaven is like hōsper a man anthrōpos about to leave on a long trip apodēmeō, who called kaleō in · ho his idios servants and kai entrusted paradidōmi his autos money hyparchō to them autos. · ho 15 · kai To one hos he gave didōmi five pente talents talanton, to another hos two dyo, to another hos one heis to each hekastos according kata to · ho his idios ability dynamis. Then kai he went on his journey apodēmeō. 16 The ho one who had received lambanō · ho five pente talents talanton went poreuō immediately and put ergazomai his autos money to work and kai gained kerdainō another allos five pente. 17 Likewise hōsautōs the ho one who had the ho two dyo gained kerdainō another allos two dyo. 18 But de the ho servant who had received lambanō the ho one heis talent went aperchomai out and dug oryssō a hole in the ground and kai hid kryptō his autos master’ s kyrios · ho money argyrion. · ho 19 Now de after meta a long polys time chronos the ho master kyrios of ho those ekeinos servants returned erchomai and kai settled synairō accounts logos with meta them autos. 20 · kai The ho one who had received lambanō the ho five pente talents talanton came proserchomai and brought prospherō another allos five pente, saying legō, ‘ Master kyrios, you entrusted paradidōmi five pente talents talanton to me egō; look ide, I have gained kerdainō five pente more allos.’ 21 His autos master kyrios said phēmi to him autos, · ho ‘Well done, good agathos and kai faithful pistos servant. You have been eimi trustworthy pistos in epi a few oligos things ; I will put kathistēmi you sy in charge kathistēmi of epi many polys things . Enter eiserchomai into eis the ho joy chara of ho your sy master kyrios.’ 22 · de The ho one who had received the ho two dyo talents talanton also kai came proserchomai, saying legō, “ Master kyrios, you entrusted paradidōmi two dyo talents talanton to me egō. Look ide, I have gained kerdainō two dyo more allos.’ 23 His autos master kyrios said phēmi to him autos, · ho ‘Well done, good agathos and kai faithful pistos servant. You have been eimi trustworthy pistos in epi a few oligos things ; I will put kathistēmi you sy in charge kathistēmi of epi many polys things . Enter eiserchomai into eis the ho joy chara of ho your sy master kyrios.’ 24 Then de the ho one who had received lambanō the ho one heis talent talanton also kai came proserchomai, saying legō, ‘ Master kyrios, I knew ginōskō that hoti you were eimi an unscrupulous sklēros man anthrōpos, reaping therizō where hopou you have not ou sown speirō and kai gathering synagō where hothen you scattered no ou seed diaskorpizō; 25 and kai being afraid phobeomai, I went aperchomai off and hid kryptō · ho your sy talent talanton in en the ho ground . Look ide, you have echō what ho is yours sos.’ 26 But de his autos master kyrios answered apokrinomai · ho him autos, saying legō, ‘ You wicked ponēros and kai lazy oknēros servant! You knew oida that hoti I reap therizō where hopou I have not ou sown speirō and kai gather synagō where hothen I scattered no ou seed diaskorpizō? 27 Then oun you sy ought dei to have deposited ballō · ho my egō money argyrion with the ho bankers trapezitēs, and kai at my return erchomai I egō would an have recovered komizō what ho was mine emos plus syn interest tokos! 28 So oun take airō the ho talent talanton away from apo him autos, and kai give didōmi it to the ho one who has echō the ho ten deka talents talanton. 29 For gar to ho everyone pas who has echō will more be given didōmi, and kai he will have an abundance perisseuō; but de from him ho who has echō not , even kai what hos he has echō will be taken airō from apo him autos. 30 And kai throw ekballō the ho worthless achreios servant into eis the ho outer exōteros darkness skotos, · ho where ekei there will be eimi · ho weeping klauthmos and kai · ho gnashing brygmos of ho teeth odous.’

31  When hotan · de the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos comes erchomai in en · ho his autos glory doxa, and kai all pas the ho angels angelos with meta him autos, then tote he will sit kathizō on epi his autos glorious doxa throne thronos. 32 · kai All pas the ho nations ethnos will be gathered synagō before emprosthen him autos, and kai he will separate aphorizō the people autos one from apo another allēlōn as hōsper a ho shepherd poimēn separates aphorizō the ho sheep probaton from apo the ho goats eriphos; 33 and kai he will place histēmi the ho sheep probaton on ek his autos right dexios, and de the ho goats eriphion on ek the left euōnymos. 34 Then tote the ho King basileus will say legō to those ho on ek his autos right dexios, ‘ Come deute, you who ho are blessed eulogeō by ho my egō Father patēr; inherit klēronomeō the ho kingdom basileia prepared hetoimazō for you hymeis from apo the foundation katabolē of the world kosmos. 35 For gar I was hungry peinaō and kai you gave didōmi me egō food esthiō, I was thirsty dipsaō and kai you gave potizō me egō drink , I was eimi a stranger xenos and kai you invited synagō me egō in , 36 I was naked gymnos and kai you clothed periballō me egō, I was sick astheneō and kai you took episkeptomai care of me egō, I was eimi in en prison phylakē and kai you visited erchomai me egō.’ 37 Then tote the ho righteous dikaios will answer apokrinomai him autos, saying legō, ‘ Lord kyrios, when pote did we see you sy hungry peinaō and kai feed trephō you, or ē thirsty dipsaō and kai give potizō you drink ? 38 And de when pote did we see you sy a stranger xenos and kai invite synagō you in , or ē naked gymnos and kai clothe periballō you? 39 And de when pote did we see you sy sick astheneō or ē in en prison phylakē and kai visit erchomai pros you sy?’ 40 And kai the ho King basileus will answer apokrinomai them autos, saying legō, ‘ I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, insofar as epi you did poieō it to one heis of the ho least elachistos of these houtos · ho my egō brothers adelphos, you did poieō it to me egō.’

41  Then tote he will say legō · kai to those ho on ek his left euōnymos, ‘ Depart poreuō from apo me egō, you ho cursed kataraomai ones , to eis the ho eternal aiōnios fire pyr · ho · ho prepared hetoimazō for the ho devil diabolos and kai · ho his autos angels angelos. 42 For gar I was hungry peinaō and kai you gave didōmi me egō no ou food esthiō, I was thirsty dipsaō and kai you gave me egō no ou drink potizō, 43 I was eimi a stranger xenos and kai you did not ou invite synagō me egō in , naked gymnos and kai you did not ou clothe periballō me egō, sick asthenēs and kai in en prison phylakē and kai you did not ou visit episkeptomai me egō.’ 44 Then tote they autos also kai will answer apokrinomai, saying legō, ‘ Lord kyrios, when pote did we see you sy hungry peinaō or ē thirsty dipsaō or ē a stranger xenos or ē naked gymnos or ē sick asthenēs or ē in en prison phylakē and kai did not ou help diakoneō you sy?’ 45 Then tote he will answer apokrinomai them autos, saying legō, ‘ I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, insofar as epi you did not ou do poieō it to one heis of the ho least elachistos of these houtos, you did poieō not oude do poieō it to me egō.’ 46 And kai these houtos will depart aperchomai to eis eternal aiōnios punishment kolasis, but de the ho righteous dikaios to eis eternal aiōnios life zōē.”

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) Five of them were foolish and five were wise.(D) The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.(E)

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

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

“‘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 Parable of the Bags of Gold(J)

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey,(K) who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability.(L) Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.(M) 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.(N) Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.(O) Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.(P) 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’(Q)

The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes(R) in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.(S) 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate(T) the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.(U) 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom(V) prepared for you since the creation of the world.(W) 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,(X) 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me,(Y) I was sick and you looked after me,(Z) I was in prison and you came to visit me.’(AA)

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’(AB)

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me,(AC) you who are cursed, into the eternal fire(AD) prepared for the devil and his angels.(AE) 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’(AF)

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.(AG)(AH)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 25:15 Greek five talents … two talents … one talent; also throughout this parable; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer’s wage.