Parable of Ten Virgins

25 “Then ^(A)the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their ^(B)lamps and went out to meet the groom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were ^(C)prudent. ³ For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them; ⁴ but the ^(D)prudent ones took oil in flasks with their lamps. ⁵ Now while the groom was delaying, they all became drowsy and began to sleep. ⁶ But at midnight ^[a]there finally was a shout: ‘Behold, the groom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ But the foolish virgins said to the prudent ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ However, the ^(E)prudent ones answered, ‘No, there most certainly would not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ But while they were ^[b]on their way to buy the oil, the groom came, and those who were ^(F)ready went in with him to ^(G)the wedding feast; and ^(H)the door was shut. ¹¹ Yet later, the other virgins also came, saying, ‘^(I)Lord, lord, open up for us.’ ¹² But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ ^13 (J)Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.

¹¹ Do this, knowing the time, that it is ^(A)already the hour for you to ^(B)awaken from sleep; for now ^[a]salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. ^12 (C)The night is almost gone, and ^(D)the day is near. Therefore let’s rid ourselves of ^(E)the deeds of darkness and put on ^(F)the armor of light. ¹³ Let’s ^[b](G)behave properly as in the day, ^(H)not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy. ¹⁴ But ^(I)put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh ^(J)in regard to its lusts.

⁵ Therefore ^(A)do not go on ^[a]passing judgment before ^[b]the time, but wait ^(B)until the Lord comes, who will both ^(C)bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of human hearts; and then ^(D)praise will come to each person from God.

^12 (A)Fight the good fight of ^(B)faith; ^(C)take hold of the eternal life ^(D)to which you were called, and for which you made the good ^(E)confession in the presence of ^(F)many witnesses. ^13 (G)I direct you in the presence of God, who ^[a]gives life to all things, and of ^(H)Christ Jesus, who testified the ^(I)good confession ^(J)before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴ that you keep the commandment without ^[b]fault or reproach until the ^(K)appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which He will ^[c]bring about at ^(L)the proper time—He who is ^(M)the blessed and ^(N)only Sovereign, ^(O)the King of ^[d]kings and ^(P)Lord of ^[e]lords, ^16 (Q)who alone possesses immortality and ^(R)dwells in unapproachable light, ^(S)whom ^[f]no one has seen or can see. ^(T)To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.