Chapter 25

"Then will the kingdom of heaven be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom and the bride.

Five of them were foolish and five wise.

But the five foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,

while the wise did take oil in their vessels with the lamps.

Then as the bridegroom was long in coming, they all became drowsy and slept.

And at midnight a cry arose, 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go forth to meet him! '

Then all the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. '

The wise answered, saying, 'Lest there may not be enough for us and for you, go rather to those who sell it, and buy some for yourselves. '

"Now while they were gone to buy it, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

Finally there came also the other virgins, who said, 'Sir, sir, open the door for us! '

But he answered and said, 'Amen I say to you, I do not know you. '

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Parable of the Talents

"For it is like a man going abroad, who called his servants and handed over his goods to them.

And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his particular ability, and then he went on his journey.

And he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more.

In like manner, he who had received the two gained two more.

But he who had received the one went away and dug in the earth and hid his master's money.

"Then after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

And he who had received the five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Master, thou didst hand over to me five talents; behold, I have gained five others in addition. '

His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many; enter into the joy of thy master. '

"And he who had received the two talents came and said, 'Master, thou didst hand over to me two talents; behold, I have gained two more. '

His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many; enter into the joy of thy master. '

"But he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Master, I know that thou art a stern man; thou reapest where thou hast not sowed and gatherest where thou hast not winnowed;

and as I was afraid, I went away and hid thy talent in the earth; behold, thou hast what is thine. '

But his master answered and said to him, 'Wicked and slothful servant! thou didst know that I reap where I do not sow, and gather where I have not winnowed?

Thou shouldst therefore have entrusted my money to the bankers, and on my return I should have got back my own with interest.

Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.

For to everyone who has shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who does not have, even that which he seems to have shall be taken away.

But as for the unprofitable servant, cast him forth into the darkness outside, where there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth. ' The Last Judgment

"But when the Son of Man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory;

and before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

and he will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

"Then the king will say to those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;

for I was hungry and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in;

naked and you covered me; sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me. '

Then the just will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and feed thee; or thirsty, and give thee drink?

And when did we see thee a stranger, and take thee in; or naked, and clothe thee?

Or when did we see thee sick, or in prison, and come to thee? '

And answering the king will say to them, 'Amen I say to you, as long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it to me. '

"Then he will say to those on his left hand, 'Depart from me, accursed ones, into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels.

For I was hungry, and you did not give me to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me no drink;

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. '

Then they also will answer and say, '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? '

Then he will answer them, saying, 'Amen I say to you, as long as you did not do it for one of these least ones, you did not do it for me. '

And these will go into everlasting punishment, but the just into everlasting life."