“1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which
took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of
them were wise, and five [were] foolish. 3 They that [were] foolish took
their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their
vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all
slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the
bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins
arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise,
Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise
answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but
go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while
they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in
with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also
the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered
and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for
ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
“14 For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far
country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his
goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to
another one; to every man according to his several ability; and
straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five
talents went and traded with the same, and made [them] other five
talents. 17 And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained
other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth,
and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those
servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received
five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou
deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five
talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and
faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make
thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He
also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst
unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside
them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant;
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over
many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had
received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art
an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou
hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in
the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine. 26 His lord answered
and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that
I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou
oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at
my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore
the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten talents. 29
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have
abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that
which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer
darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
“31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy
angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And
before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one
from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats: 33 And
he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of
my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of
the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty,
and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and
ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye
came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when
saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee]
drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and
clothed [thee]? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto
thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto
you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my
brethren, ye have done [it] unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them
on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye
gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a
stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and
in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him,
saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or
naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then
shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did
[it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me. 46 And
these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into
life eternal.” (Matthew 25:1-46 AV)
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