Matthew 25
Wycliffe Bible
25 Then the kingdom of heavens shall be like to ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went out to meet the husband and the wife[a];
2 and five of them were fools, and five prudent.
3 But the five fools took their lamps, and took not oil with them;
4 but the prudent took oil in their vessels with the lamps.
5 And whiles the husband [the spouse, or husband,] tarried, all they napped and slept.
6 But at midnight a cry was made, Lo! the spouse cometh, go ye out to meet with him [go ye out to meet him].
7 Then all those virgins rose up, and arrayed their lamps [and adorned their lamps].
8 And the fools said to the wise, Give ye to us of your oil, for our lamps be quenched.
9 The prudent answered, and said [saying], Lest peradventure it suffice not to us and to you, go ye rather to men that sell, and buy to you.
10 And while they went to buy, the spouse came; and those that were ready, entered [in] with him to the weddings; and the gate was shut.
11 And at the last the other virgins came, and said, Lord, Lord, open to us.[b]
12 And he answered, and said, Truly I say to you, I know you not.
13 Therefore wake ye, for ye know not the day nor the hour.
14 For as a man that goeth in pilgrimage [Soothly as a man going far in pilgrimage], called his servants, and betook to them his goods;
15 and to one he gave five talents, to another twain [and to one he gave five talents, or bezants, forsooth to another two], and to another one, to each after his own virtue; and he went forth at once [and he went forth anon].
16 And he that had five bezants [Forsooth and he that had taken five talents], went forth, and wrought in them, and won other five.
17 Also and he that had taken twain, won other twain. [Also and he that had taken two, won other two.]
18 But he that had taken one, went forth, and delved in the earth, and hid the money of his lord.
19 But after long time, the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them.
20 And he that had taken five bezants, came, and brought other five, and said, Lord, thou betookest to me five bezants, lo! I have gotten above five others.[c]
21 His lord said to him, Well be thou, good servant and faithful; for on few things thou hast been true[d], I shall ordain thee on many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 And he that had taken two talents, came, and said, Lord, thou betookest to me two bezants; lo! I have won over other twain.[e]
23 His lord said to him, Well be thou, good servant and true; for on few things thou hast been true[f], I shall ordain thee on many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 But he that had taken one bezant [Forsooth and he that had taken one talent], came, and said, Lord, I know that thou art an hard man; thou reapest where thou hast not sown, and thou gatherest together where thou hast not spreaded abroad;
25 and I dreading went, and hid thy bezant in the earth [and I dreading went, and hid thy talent in the earth]; lo! thou hast that that is thine.
26 His lord answered, and said to him, Evil servant and slow, knewest thou that I reap where I sowed not, and gather together where I spreaded not abroad?
27 Therefore it behooved thee to betake my money to (ex)changers [Therefore it behooved thee to have sent my money to changers], that when I came, I should have received that that is mine with usuries.
28 Therefore take away from him the bezant, and give [ye it] to him that hath ten bezants. [And so take ye away from him the talent, and give ye it to him that hath ten talents.]
29 For to every man that hath me shall give, and he shall increase[g]; but from him that hath not, also that that he seemeth to have, shall be taken away from him.
30 And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into outer-more darknesses; there shall be weeping, and grinding of teeth. [And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into utter-more darknesses; there shall be weeping, and beating together of teeth.]
31 When man's Son shall come in his majesty, and all his angels with him, then he shall sit on the seat of his majesty [then he shall sit on the siege of his majesty];
32 and all folks shall be gathered before him, and he shall separate them atwain, as a shepherd separateth sheep from kids [and he shall part them atwain, as a shepherd parteth sheep from kids];
33 and he shall set the sheep on his right half, and the kids on the left half [and the kids forsooth on his left half].
34 Then the king shall say to them, that shall be on his right half, Come ye, the blessed of my Father, take ye in possession the kingdom made ready to you from the making of the world [Come ye, the blessed of my Father, wield ye, or take ye in possession, the kingdom made ready to you from the beginning, or making, of the world].
35 For I hungered[h], and ye gave me to eat; I thirsted, and ye gave me to drink; I was harbourless, and ye harboured me [I was harbourless, and ye gathered, or harboured, me];
36 naked, and ye covered me; sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came to me.
37 Then just men shall answer to him, and say [saying], Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and we fed thee; thirsty, and we gave to thee drink [thirsty, and we gave thee drink]?
38 and when saw we thee harbourless, and we harboured thee [when forsooth saw we thee harbourless, and we gathered thee to harbour]; or naked, and we covered thee?
39 or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and we came to thee?
40 And the king answering shall say to them, Truly I say to you, as long as ye did to one of these my least brethren, ye did to me.
41 Then the king shall say also to them, that shall be on his left half, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, that is made ready to the devil and his angels [which is made ready to the devil and his angels].
42 For I hungered, and ye gave not me to eat; I thirsted, and ye gave not me to drink; [For I hungered, and ye gave not to me for to eat; I thirsted, and ye gave not to me for to drink;]
43 I was harbourless, and ye harboured not me [I was harbourless, and ye gathered not me to harbour]; naked, and ye covered not me; sick, and in prison, and ye visited not me.
44 Then and they shall answer to him, and shall say[i], Lord, when saw we thee hungering, or thirsting, or harbourless, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and we served not to thee?
45 Then he shall answer to them, and say [saying], Truly I say to you, as long as ye did not to one of these least, neither ye did to me [as long as ye did not to one of these least, ye did not to me].
46 And these shall go into everlasting torment; but the just men shall go into everlasting life.
Footnotes
- Matthew 25:1 which taking their lamps, went out meeting the spouse, or husband, and the spousess, or wife
- Matthew 25:11 Soothly at the last also the other virgins came, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
- Matthew 25:20 And he that had taken five talents, coming to, offered other five, saying, Lord, thou betookest to me five talents, or bezants, lo! I have gotten over other five.
- Matthew 25:21 for upon few things thou hast been faithful
- Matthew 25:22 Forsooth and he that had taken two talents, came to, and said, Lord, thou betookest to me two talents; lo! I have gotten over other two.
- Matthew 25:23 Well be thou, good servant and faithful; for upon few things thou hast been faithful
- Matthew 25:29 For to every man having it shall be given, and he shall have plenty, or increase
- Matthew 25:35 Forsooth I was hungry/For I was hungered
- Matthew 25:44 Then also they shall answer to him, saying
Matthew 25
New Matthew Bible
The ten virgins, the talents delivered to the servants, and of the general judgment.
25 Then the kingdom of heaven will be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them. 4 But the wise took oil with them in their vessels, with their lamps also.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, all slumbered and slept. 6 And right at midnight there was a cry made: Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go out to meet him! 7 Then all those virgins arose and prepared 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, Not so, lest there not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came. And those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the gate was shut up. 11 Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us! 12 But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I know you not.
13 Watch, therefore. For you know neither the day nor yet the hour when the Son of man will come.
14 Likewise it will be as a certain man, ready to take his journey to a strange country, called his servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one – to every man according to his ability – and straightaway departed. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and won another five talents. 17 Likewise, he who received two gained another two. 18 But he who received the one went and dug a hole in the earth, and hid his master’s money.
19 After a long season, the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them. 20 Then came he that had received five talents, and brought another five talents, saying, Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have gained with them five talents more. 21 Then his master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in a little; I will appoint you over much. Enter into your master’s joy!
22 Also he who received two talents came and said, Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have won two other talents with them. 23 And his master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in a little; I will appoint you over much. Go in, into your master’s joy.
24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Master, I considered that you were a hard man, who reaps where you did not sow and gathers where you did not scatter, 25 and was therefore afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth. Here, have your talent.
26 His master answered and said to him, You evil servant, and slothful: you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 You ought therefore to have put my money with the moneychangers, and then at my coming I would have received what is my own with profit. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten talents. 29 For every person who has will be given more, and he will have abundance; and from him who has not, shall be taken away even what he has. 30 And cast that unprofitable servant into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his glory. 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the king say to those on his right hand, Come ye blessed children of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was homeless and you lodged me. 36 I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.
37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Master, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you homeless and lodge you, or naked and clothe you? 39 Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you? 40 And the king will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it for one of the least of these my brethren, you did it for me.
41 Then shall the king say to those who will be on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food. I was thirsty and you gave me no drink. 43 I was homeless and you did not lodge me. I was naked and you did not clothe me. I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.
44 Then they also will answer him, saying, Master, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or homeless, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you? 45 Then shall he answer them and say, Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it not for one of the least of these, you did it not for me. 46 And these shall go into everlasting pain, but the righteous into life eternal.
Matthew 25
1599 Geneva Bible
25 1 The virgins looking for the Bridegroom. 13 We must watch. 14 The talents delivered unto the servants. 24 The evil servants. 30 After what sort the last judgment shall be. 41 The cursed.
1 Then [a]the kingdom of heaven shall be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and [b]went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five foolish.
3 The foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them.
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 Now while the bridegroom tarried long, all [c]slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh: go out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there will not be enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the wedding, and the gate was shut.
11 Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered, and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 (A)Watch therefore: for ye know neither the day, nor the hour, when the son of man will come.
14 (B)[d]For the kingdom of heaven is as a man that going into a strange country, called his servants, and delivered to them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every man after his own [e]ability, and straightway went from home.
16 Then he that had received the five talents, went and occupied with them, and gained other five talents.
17 Likewise also he that received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that received that one, went and dug it in the earth, and hid his master’s money.
19 But after a long season, the master of those servants came, and reckoned with them.
20 Then came he that had received five talents, and brought other five talents, saying, Master, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained with them other five talents.
21 Then his master said unto him, It is well done good servant and faithful, Thou hast been faithful in little, I will make thee ruler over much: [f]enter into thy master’s joy.
22 Also he that had received two talents, came, and said, Master, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents more.
23 His master said unto him, It is well done good servant, and faithful, Thou hast been faithful in little, I will make thee ruler over much: enter into thy master’s joy.
24 Then he that had received the one talent, came, and said, Master, I knew that thou wast an hard man, which reapest where thou sowedst not, and gatherest where thou strawedst not:
25 I was therefore afraid, and went, and hid thy talent in the earth: behold, thou hast thine own.
26 And his master answered, and said unto him, Thou evil servant, and slothful, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I strawed not.
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the [g]exchangers, and then at my coming should I have received mine own with vantage.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 (C)For unto every man that hath, it shall be given, and he shall have abundance, and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away.
30 Cast therefore that unprofitable servant into utter (D)darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 ¶ [h]And when the Son of man cometh in his glory and all the holy Angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory,
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats.
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the king say to them on his right hand, Come ye [i]blessed of my father: take the inheritance of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 (E)For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I thirsted, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in unto you.
36 I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was (F)sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink?
38 And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in unto us? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the king shall answer, and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.
41 Then shall he say to them on the left hand, (G)Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I thirsted, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in unto you: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, and say, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 (H)And these shall go into everlasting pain, and the righteous into life eternal.
Footnotes
- Matthew 25:1 We must desire strength at God’s hand, which may serve us as a torch while we walk through this darkness, to bring us to our desired end: otherwise if we become slothful and negligent as weary of our pains and travail, we shall be shut out of the doors.
- Matthew 25:1 The pomp of bridals was wont for the most part to be kept in the night seasons, and that by damsels.
- Matthew 25:5 Their eyes being heavy with sleep.
- Matthew 25:14 Christ witnesseth that there shall be a long time between his departure to his father, and his coming again to us, but yet notwithstanding that, he will at that day take an account not only of the rebellious and obstinate, how they have bestowed that which they received of him, but also of his household servants, which have not through slothfulness employed those gifts which he bestowed upon them.
- Matthew 25:15 According to the wisdom and skill in dealing, which was given them.
- Matthew 25:21 Come, and receive the fruit of goodness, now the Lord’s joy is doubled, John 15:11, that my joy may remain in you, and your joy be fulfilled.
- Matthew 25:27 Table mates which have their shop bulks or tables set abroad, where they let out money to usury.
- Matthew 25:31 A lively setting forth of the everlasting judgment which is to come.
- Matthew 25:34 Blessed and happy, upon whom my Father hath most abundantly bestowed his benefits.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
