[1] "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took
their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. [2] Five of them were foolish,
and five were wise. [3] For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no
oil with them; [4] but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. [5] As
the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. [6] But at
midnight there was a cry, `Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
[7] Then all those maidens rose and trimmed 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 replied, `Perhaps there will not be enough for
us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' [10] And
while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went
in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. [11] Afterward
the other maidens came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.' [12] But he
replied, `Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' [13] Watch therefore,
for you know neither the day nor the hour. [14] "For it will be as when a
man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his
property; [15] to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one,
to each according to his ability. Then he went away. [16] He who had
received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made
five talents more. [17] So also, he who had the two talents made two
talents more. [18] But he who had received the one talent went and dug in
the ground and hid his master's money. [19] Now after a long time the
master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. [20] And he
who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more,
saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five
talents more.' [21] His master 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 master.' [22] And he also who had the two
talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents;
here I have made two talents more.' [23] His master 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 master.' [24] He also
who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you
to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you
did not winnow; [25] so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the
ground. Here you have what is yours.' [26] But his master answered him,
`You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not
sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? [27] Then you ought to have
invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received
what was my own with interest. [28] So take the talent from him, and give
it to him who has the ten talents. [29] For to every one who has will more
be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what
he has will be taken away. [30] And cast the worthless servant into the
outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their 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] Before him will be gathered all the
nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates
the sheep from the goats, [33] and he will place the sheep at his right
hand, but the goats at the left. [34] Then the King will say to those at
his right hand, `Come, O 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, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or
thirsty and give thee drink? [38] And when did we see thee a stranger and
welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? [39] And when did we see thee sick
or in prison and visit thee?' [40] And the King will answer them, `Truly, I
say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did
it to me.' [41] Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from
me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his
angels; [42] for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and
you gave me no drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,
naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit
me.' [44] Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or
thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister
to thee?' [45] Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did
it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' [46] And they
will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."