Add parallel Print Page Options

25 “The Kingdom of Heaven at that time will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. The foolish ones took lamps with them but no oil, whereas the others took flasks of oil with their lamps. Now the bridegroom was late, so they all went to sleep. It was the middle of the night when the cry rang out, ‘The bridegroom is here! Go out to meet him!’ The girls all woke up and prepared their lamps for lighting. The foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both you and us. Go to the oil dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But as they were going off to buy, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. 11 Later, the other bridesmaids came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they cried, ‘Let us in!’ 12 But he answered, ‘Indeed! I tell you, I don’t know you!’ 13 So stay alert, because you know neither the day nor the hour.

14 “For it will be like a man about to leave home for awhile, who entrusted his possessions to his servants. 15 To one he gave five talents [equivalent to a hundred years’ wages]; to another, two talents; and to another, one talent — to each according to his ability. Then he left. 16 The one who had received five talents immediately went out, invested it and earned another five. 17 Similarly, the one given two earned another two. 18 But the one given one talent 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 to settle accounts with them. 20 The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the other five and said, ‘Sir, you gave me five talents; here, I have made five more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Excellent! You are a good and trustworthy servant. You have been faithful with a small amount, so I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and join in your master’s happiness!’ 22 Also the one who had received two came forward and said, ‘Sir, you gave me two talents; here, I have made two more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Excellent! you are a good and trustworthy servant. You have been faithful with a small amount, so I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and join in your master’s happiness!’

24 “Now the one who had received one talent came forward and said, ‘I knew you were a hard man. You harvest where you didn’t plant and gather where you didn’t sow seed. 25 I was afraid, so I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here! Take what belongs to you!’ 26 ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ said his master, ‘So you knew, did you, that I harvest where I haven’t planted? and that I gather where I didn’t sow seed? 27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, so that when I returned, I would at least have gotten back interest with my capital! 28 Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. 29 For everyone who has something will be given more, so that he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has nothing, even what he does have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless servant, throw him out in the dark, where people will wail and grind their teeth!’

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, accompanied by all the angels, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. 33 The ‘sheep’ he will place at his right hand and the ‘goats’ at his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you made me your guest, 36 I needed clothes and you provided them, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the people who have done what God wants will reply, ‘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 make you our guest, or needing clothes and provide them? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 The King will say to them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did them for me!’

41 “Then he will also speak to those on his left, saying, ‘Get away from me, you who are cursed! Go off into the fire prepared for the Adversary and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 a stranger and you did not welcome me, needing clothes and you did not give them to me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothes, sick or in prison, and not take care of you?’ 45 And he will answer them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you refused to do it for the least important of these people, you refused to do it for me!’ 46 They will go off to eternal punishment, but those who have done what God wants will go to eternal life.”

Das Gleichnis von den zehn Jungfrauen

25 Dann wird das Reich der Himmel zehn Jungfrauen gleichen, die ihre Lampen nahmen und dem Bräutigam entgegengingen.

Fünf von ihnen aber waren klug und fünf töricht.

Die törichten nahmen zwar ihre Lampen, aber sie nahmen kein Öl mit sich.

Die klugen aber nahmen Öl in ihren Gefäßen mitsamt ihren Lampen.

Als nun der Bräutigam auf sich warten ließ, wurden sie alle schläfrig und schliefen ein.

Um Mitternacht aber entstand ein Geschrei: Siehe, der Bräutigam kommt! Geht aus, ihm entgegen!

Da erwachten alle jene Jungfrauen und machten ihre Lampen bereit.

Die törichten aber sprachen zu den klugen: Gebt uns von eurem Öl, denn unsere Lampen erlöschen!

Aber die klugen antworteten und sprachen: Nein, es würde nicht reichen für uns und für euch. Geht doch vielmehr hin zu den Händlern und kauft für euch selbst!

10 Während sie aber hingingen, um zu kaufen, kam der Bräutigam; und die bereit waren, gingen mit ihm hinein zur Hochzeit; und die Tür wurde verschlossen.

11 Danach kommen auch die übrigen Jungfrauen und sagen: Herr, Herr, tue uns auf!

12 Er aber antwortete und sprach: Wahrlich, ich sage euch: Ich kenne euch nicht!

13 Darum wacht! Denn ihr wisst weder den Tag noch die Stunde, in welcher der Sohn des Menschen kommen wird.

Das Gleichnis von den anvertrauten Talenten

14 Denn es ist wie bei einem Menschen, der außer Landes reisen wollte, seine Knechte rief und ihnen seine Güter übergab.

15 Dem einen gab er fünf Talente, dem anderen zwei, dem dritten eins, jedem nach seiner Kraft[a], und er reiste sogleich ab.

16 Da ging der hin, welcher die fünf Talente empfangen hatte, handelte mit ihnen und gewann fünf weitere Talente.

17 Und ebenso der, welcher die zwei Talente [empfangen hatte], auch er gewann zwei weitere.

18 Aber der, welcher das eine empfangen hatte, ging hin, grub die Erde auf und verbarg das Geld seines Herrn.

19 Nach langer Zeit aber kommt der Herr dieser Knechte und hält Abrechnung mit ihnen.

20 Und es trat der hinzu, der die fünf Talente empfangen hatte, brachte noch fünf weitere Talente herzu und sprach: Herr, du hast mir fünf Talente übergeben; siehe, ich habe mit ihnen fünf weitere Talente gewonnen.

21 Da sagte sein Herr zu ihm: Recht so, du guter und treuer Knecht! Du bist über wenigem treu gewesen, ich will dich über vieles setzen; geh ein zur Freude deines Herrn!

22 Und es trat auch der hinzu, der die zwei Talente empfangen hatte, und sprach: Herr, du hast mir zwei Talente übergeben; siehe, ich habe mit ihnen zwei andere Talente gewonnen.

23 Sein Herr sagte zu ihm: Recht so, du guter und treuer Knecht! Du bist über wenigem treu gewesen, ich will dich über vieles setzen; geh ein zur Freude deines Herrn!

24 Da trat auch der hinzu, der das eine Talent empfangen hatte, und sprach: Herr, ich kannte dich, dass du ein harter Mann bist. Du erntest, wo du nicht gesät, und sammelst, wo du nicht ausgestreut hast;

25 und ich fürchtete mich, ging hin und verbarg dein Talent in der Erde. Siehe, da hast du das Deine!

26 Aber sein Herr antwortete und sprach zu ihm: Du böser und fauler Knecht! Wusstest du, dass ich ernte, wo ich nicht gesät, und sammle, wo ich nicht ausgestreut habe?

27 Dann hättest du mein Geld den Wechslern bringen sollen, so hätte ich bei meinem Kommen das Meine mit Zinsen zurückerhalten.

28 Darum nehmt ihm das Talent weg und gebt es dem, der die zehn Talente hat!

29 Denn wer hat, dem wird gegeben werden, damit er Überfluss hat; von dem aber, der nicht hat, wird auch das genommen werden, was er hat.

30 Und den unnützen Knecht werft hinaus in die äußerste Finsternis! Dort wird das Heulen und Zähneknirschen sein.

Das Gericht über die Heidenvölker

31 Wenn aber der Sohn des Menschen in seiner Herrlichkeit kommen wird und alle heiligen Engel mit ihm, dann wird er auf dem Thron seiner Herrlichkeit sitzen,

32 und vor ihm werden alle Heidenvölker versammelt werden. Und er wird sie voneinander scheiden, wie ein Hirte die Schafe von den Böcken[b] scheidet,

33 und er wird die Schafe zu seiner Rechten stellen, die Böcke aber zu seiner Linken.

34 Dann wird der König denen zu seiner Rechten sagen: Kommt her, ihr Gesegneten meines Vaters, und erbt das Reich, das euch bereitet ist seit Grundlegung der Welt!

35 Denn ich bin hungrig gewesen, und ihr habt mich gespeist; ich bin durstig gewesen, und ihr habt mir zu trinken gegeben; ich bin ein Fremdling gewesen, und ihr habt mich beherbergt;

36 ich bin ohne Kleidung gewesen,[c] und ihr habt mich bekleidet; ich bin krank gewesen, und ihr habt mich besucht; ich bin gefangen gewesen, und ihr seid zu mir gekommen.

37 Dann werden ihm die Gerechten antworten und sagen: Herr, wann haben wir dich hungrig gesehen und haben dich gespeist, oder durstig, und haben dir zu trinken gegeben?

38 Wann haben wir dich als Fremdling gesehen und haben dich beherbergt, oder ohne Kleidung, und haben dich bekleidet?

39 Wann haben wir dich krank gesehen oder im Gefängnis, und sind zu dir gekommen?

40 Und der König wird ihnen antworten und sagen: Wahrlich, ich sage euch: Was ihr einem dieser meiner geringsten Brüder getan habt, das habt ihr mir getan!

41 Dann wird er auch denen zur Linken sagen: Geht hinweg von mir, ihr Verfluchten, in das ewige Feuer, das dem Teufel und seinen Engeln bereitet ist!

42 Denn ich bin hungrig gewesen, und ihr habt mich nicht gespeist; ich bin durstig gewesen, und ihr habt mir nicht zu trinken gegeben;

43 ich bin ein Fremdling gewesen, und ihr habt mich nicht beherbergt; ohne Kleidung, und ihr habt mich nicht bekleidet; krank und gefangen, und ihr habt mich nicht besucht!

44 Dann werden auch sie ihm antworten und sagen: Herr, wann haben wir dich hungrig oder durstig oder als Fremdling oder ohne Kleidung oder krank oder gefangen gesehen und haben dir nicht gedient?

45 Dann wird er ihnen antworten: Wahrlich, ich sage euch: Was ihr einem dieser Geringsten nicht getan habt, das habt ihr mir auch nicht getan!

46 Und sie werden in die ewige Strafe hingehen, die Gerechten aber in das ewige Leben.

Footnotes

  1. (25,15) od. Fähigkeit.
  2. (25,32) gemeint sind Ziegenböcke.
  3. (25,36) w. entblößt / dürftig bekleidet. Im Judentum galt bereits der Verlust der Oberbekleidung als Blöße.

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.