Matthew 25
1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take oil with them.
4 But the wise ones took oil in jars along with their lamps.
5 Since the bridegroom was delayed, they all nodded off and fell asleep.
6 At midnight a shout rang out: ‘The bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 Then all those virgins got up and prepared their lamps.
8 The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’
9 But the wise ones replied, ‘There may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the sellers and buy some for yourselves.’
10 While they were away buying it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
11 Later the other virgins came too and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’
12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’
13 So keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
14 “For it is like a man who, when setting out on a journey, called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his ability; then he went on his journey. At once,
16 the one who had received five talents went and put them to work, and gained five more.
17 In the same way, the one who had received two gained two more.
18 But the one who had received one went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.
19 After a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 The one who had received five talents came forward and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted me with five talents. Look, I have gained five more talents.’
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful with a little; I will put you in charge of much. Come and share your master's joy.’
22 The one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. Look, I have gained two more talents.’
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful with a little; I will put you in charge of much. Come and share your master's joy.’
24 Then the one who had received one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter.
25 So I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, here is what belongs to you.’
26 His master replied to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You knew that I harvest where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter?
27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and when I returned I would have received what was mine with interest.
28 So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and they will have more than enough; but from the one who does not have, even what they have will be taken away.
30 And throw the useless servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there.’”
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 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people from one another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to 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 see me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and come to see you?’
40 The King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.’
41 Then he will also say to those at his left hand, ‘Go away from me, you who are 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 nothing to drink.
43 I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me; I was naked, and you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.’
44 Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and not serve you?’
45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whenever you failed to do this for one of the least of these, you failed to do it for me.’
46 And these will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
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