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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. | |
