[1] “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
[2] Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
[3] For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
[4] but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
[5] Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.
[6] But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
[7] Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
[8] The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
[9] But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’
[10] And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.
[11] Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’
[12] But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’
[13] Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
[14] “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
[15] To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
[16] Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.
[17] In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.
[18] But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
[19] “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
[20] The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’
[21] His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
[22] “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’
[23] His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
[24] “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.
[25] And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
[26] “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.
[27] Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
[28] Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
[29] “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
[30] Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
[31] “But 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 them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
[33] and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
[34] “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are 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 something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited 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, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
[38] And when did we see You a stranger, and invite 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 and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
[41] “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
[42] for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
[43] I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’
[44] Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’
[45] Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
[46] These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”