King James Version

1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 But five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For the foolish ones, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them. 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But as the bridegroom delayed, all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 And in the middle of the night, a cry arose: Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 But the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." 9 The wise answered, saying, "Perhaps it will not be sufficient for us and for you; go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves." 10 And while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut. 11 Later, the other virgins come, saying, "Lord, Lord, open for us." 12 But he answered and said: Truly I say to you, I do not know you. 13 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know the day or the hour. 14 For just as a man going on a journey called his own servants and entrusted to them his possessions, 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and he went away. Immediately. 16 Having gone, the one who received the five talents worked with them and gained another five. 17 Likewise, he who gained two others gained two more. 18 But the one who received the one went away and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 After a long time, the lord of those servants comes and settles accounts with them. 20 And approaching, the one who had received five talents brought five more talents, saying: "Lord, you delivered to me five talents; behold, I have gained five more talents." 21 His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your lord." 22 And the one who had received two talents approached and said, "Lord, you delivered to me two talents; behold, I have gained two more talents." 23 His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your lord." 24 And the one who had received the one talent came and said: "Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed." 25 And being afraid, I went away and hid your talent in the ground; behold, you have what is yours. 26 But his lord answered and said to him, "You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed?" 27 You should therefore place my silver with the money changers, and upon my arrival, I would have received it back with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 And all nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right, "Come, you blessed of 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 drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed 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, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?" 38 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 "When have we ever seen you sick or in prison and came to you?" 40 And the king will answer them: Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. 41 Then he will also say to those on his left: Depart from me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you did not give me anything to eat, I was thirsty and you did not give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger and you did not gather me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. 44 Then they will answer, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not serve you?" 45 Then he will answer them, saying: "Truly I say to you, as much as you did not do it to one of these least ones, you did not do it to me." 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.