25:1 "Then will the Kingdom of the Heavens be found to be like ten bridesmaids who took their torches and went out to meet the bridegroom.

25:2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

25:3 For the foolish, when they took their torches, did not provide themselves with oil;

25:4 but the wise, besides their torches, took oil in their flasks.

25:5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, so that meanwhile they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

25:6 But at midnight there is a loud cry, "`The bridegroom! Go out and meet him!'

25:7 "Then all those bridesmaids roused themselves and trimmed their torches.

25:8 "`Give us some of your oil,' said the foolish ones to the wise, `for our torches are going out.'

25:9 "`But perhaps,' replied the wise, `there will not be enough for all of us. Go to the shops rather, and buy some for yourselves.'

25:10 "So they went to buy. But meanwhile the bridegroom came; those bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.

25:11 "Afterwards the other bridesmaids came and cried, "`Sir, Sir, open the door to us.'

25:12 "`In solemn truth I tell you,' he replied, `I do not know you.'

25:13 "Keep awake therefore; for you know neither the day nor the hour.

25:14 "Why, it is like a man who, when going on his travels, called his bondservants and entrusted his property to their care.

25:15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one--to each according to his individual capacity; and then started from home.

25:16 Without delay the one who had received the five talents went and employed them in business, and gained five more.

25:17 In the same way he who had the two gained two more.

25:18 But the man who had received the one went and dug a hole and buried his master's money.

25:19 "After a long lapse of time the master of those servants returned, and had a reckoning with them.

25:20 The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, and said, "`Sir, it was five talents that you entrusted to me: see, I have gained five more.'

25:21 "`You have done well, good and trustworthy servant,' replied his master; `you have been trustworthy in the management of a little, I will put you in charge of much: share your master's joy.'

25:22 "The second, who had received the two talents, came and said, "`Sir, it was two talents you entrusted to me: see, I have gained two more.'

25:23 "`Good and trustworthy servant, you have done well,' his master replied; `you have been trustworthy in the management of a little, I will put you in charge of much: share your master's joy.'

25:24 "But, next, the man who had the one talent in his keeping came and said, "`Sir, I knew you to be a severe man, reaping where you had not sown and garnering what you had not winnowed.

25:25 So being afraid I went and buried your talent in the ground: there you have what belongs to you.'

25:26 "`You wicked and slothful servant,' replied his master, `did you know that I reap where I have not sown, and garner what I have not winnowed?

25:27 Your duty then was to deposit my money in some bank, and so when I came I should have got back my property with interest.

25:28 So take away the talent from him, and give it to the man who has the ten.'

25:29 (For to every one who has, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has nothing, even what he has shall be taken away.)

25:30 `But as for this worthless servant, put him out into the darkness outside: *there* will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.'

25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then will He sit upon His glorious throne,

25:32 and all the nations will be gathered into His presence. And He will separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

25:33 and will make the sheep stand at His right hand, and the goats at His left.

25:34 "Then the King will say to those at His right, "`Come, my Father's blessed ones, receive your inheritance of the Kingdom which has been divinely intended for you ever since the creation of the world.

25:35 For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was homeless, you gave me a welcome;

25:36 when I was ill-clad, you clothed me; when I was sick, you visited me; when I was in prison, you came to see me.'

25:37 "`When, Lord,' the righteous will reply, `did we see Thee hungry, and feed Thee; or thirsty, and give Thee drink?

25:38 When did we see Thee homeless, and give Thee a welcome? or ill-clad, and clothe Thee?

25:39 When did we see Thee sick or in prison, and come to see Thee?'

25:40 "But the King will answer them, "`In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you rendered such services to one of the humblest of these my brethren, you rendered them to myself.'

25:41 "Then will He say to those at His left, "`Begone from me, with the curse resting upon you, into the Fire of the Ages, which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels.

25:42 For when I was hungry, you gave me nothing to eat; when thirsty, you gave me nothing to drink;

25:43 when homeless, you gave me no welcome; ill-clad, you clothed me not; sick or in prison, you visited me not.'

25:44 "Then will they also answer, "`Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty or homeless or ill-clad or sick or in prison, and not come to serve Thee?'

25:45 "But he will reply, "`In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you withheld such services from one of the humblest of these, you withheld them from me.'