The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins^[a] who took their lamps^[b] and went out to meet the groom.^{(A) 2} Five of them were foolish and five were wise.^{(B) 3} When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; ⁴ but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. ⁵ When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

⁶ “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’

⁷ “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’

⁹ “The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’

¹⁰ “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.^{(C) 11} Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’

¹² “He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’

¹³ “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.^[c]

Put On Christ

¹¹ Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour^(A) for you^[a] to wake up from sleep,^(B) because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.^{(C) 12} The night is nearly over, and the day is near;^(D) so let us discard the deeds of darkness^(E) and put on the armor of light.^{(F) 13} Let us walk with decency,^(G) as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness;^(H) not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,^(I) and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.^(J)

⁵ So don’t judge^(A) anything prematurely, before the Lord comes,^(B) who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.^(C)

¹² Fight the good fight^(A) of the faith. Take hold of eternal life^(B) to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the presence of God, who gives life to all,^(C) and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate,^(D) I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing^(E) of our Lord^(F) Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ God will bring this about in his own time.^(G) He is the blessed and only^(H) Sovereign, the King of kings,^(I) and the Lord of lords,^{(J) 16} who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light,^(K) whom no one has seen or can see,^(L) to him be honor and eternal power.^(M) Amen.^(N)