The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five^[a] of the virgins^[b] were foolish, and five were wise. ³ When^[c] the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra^[d] olive oil^[e] with them. ⁴ But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. ⁵ When^[f] the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. ⁶ But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The^[g] foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ ‘No,’ they replied.^[h] ‘There won’t be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then^[i] the door was shut. ¹¹ Later,^[j] the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, lord! Let us in!’^{[k] 12} But he replied,^[l] ‘I tell you the truth,^[m] I do not know you!’ ¹³ Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour.^[n]

The Parable of the Talents

¹⁴ “For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves^[o] and entrusted his property to them. ¹⁵ To^[p] one he gave five talents,^[q] to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶ The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work^[r] and gained five more. ¹⁷ In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. ¹⁸ But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it. ¹⁹ After^[s] a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. ²⁰ The^[t] one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir,^[u] you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ ²¹ His master answered,^[v] ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²² The^[w] one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’ ²³ His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴ Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, ²⁵ so^[x] I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ ²⁶ But his master answered,^[y] ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? ²⁷ Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers,^[z] and on my return I would have received my money back with interest!^{[aa] 28} Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten.^{[ab] 29} For the one who has will be given more,^[ac] and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.^{[ad] 30} And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness,^[ae] where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Judgment

³¹ “When^[af] the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All^[ag] the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He^[ah] 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, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation 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 invited me in, ³⁶ I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him,^[ai] ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When^[aj] did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ When^[ak] did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰ And the king will answer them,^[al] ‘I tell you the truth,^[am] just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters^[an] of mine, you did it for me.’

⁴¹ “Then he will say^[ao] to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 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 receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they too will answer,^[ap] ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them,^[aq] ‘I tell you the truth,^[ar] just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”^[as]