The Parable of the Ten Virgins

1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all dozed off and slept.

6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’

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

9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, or there won’t be enough for both us and you. Go, instead, to those who sell and buy some for yourselves.’

10 While they went away to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast and the door was shut.

11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door to us.’

12 But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I do not know you.’

13 Watch therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.

16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents. 17 In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two. 18 But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and reconciled accounts with them. 20 He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents. I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’

21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’

22 He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents. I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’

23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’

24 He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. 25 I was afraid and went away and hid your talent in the earth. You have what is yours.’

26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter. 27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.

28 Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance, but from the one who does not have, even that which he has will be taken away. 30 Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ”

The Sheep and the Goats

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.

32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left.

34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, 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 to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. 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 a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and take you in or clothe you from nakedness? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’

40 The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it for one of the least of these my brothers, you did it for me.’

41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels, 42 for I was hungry, and you did not give me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you did not take me in; naked, and you did not clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.’

44 Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’ ”

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