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: Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 4: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5: Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6: But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!' 7: Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8: The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9: But the wise answered, saying, 'What if there isn't enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' 10: While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11: Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' 12: But he answered, 'Most assuredly I tell you, I don't know you.' 13: Watch therefore, for you don't know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. 14: "For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and delivered his goods to them. 15: To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability, and he went on his journey. 16: Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17: In like manner he also who got the two gained another two. 18: But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19: "Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them. 20: He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.' 21: "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 22: "He also who got the two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.' 23: "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 24: "He also who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. 25: I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have your own.' 26: "But his lord answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn't sow, and gather where I didn't scatter. 27: You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. 28: Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29: For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken away. 30: Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.' 31: "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32: Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33: He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34: Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35: for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; 36: naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.' 37: "Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? 38: When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? 39: When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?' 40: "The King will answer them, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' 41: Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; 42: for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; 43: I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' 44: "Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?' 45: "Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of these least, you didn't do it to me.' 46: These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."