Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹³ I would not, brethren, have you be ignorant concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow like others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so then also those who sleep in Jesus, God will bring again with him. ¹⁵ And this we say to you in the word of the Lord: we who live and are remaining at the coming of the Lord will not precede those who sleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, and the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will arise first. ¹⁷ Then shall we who live and remain be caught up with them also in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

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.