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¹ The kingdom of the Messiah will then be such, as when ten virgins took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² 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 were drowsy and slept. ⁶ and at midnight there was a sudden cry, see the bridegroom comes; go and meet him. ⁷ then the virgins all arose, and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ and the foolish said to the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out. ⁹ but the wise answered, for fear there should not be enough for us and you, go rather to those that sell; and buy for your selves. ¹⁰ and while they were gone to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready, entred with him into the hall, and the door was shut. ¹¹ afterwards came the other virgins likewise, and cry'd, ¹² Lord, Lord, pray let us in. but he answered, I assure you, I know you not. ¹³ watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour.

¹⁴ So it was when a man was going to travel into a foreign country, he called his servants, and delivered to them his stock: ¹⁵ to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his respective ability, and then set out on his journey. ¹⁶ now he that had received five talents, immediately employed them in trade, and gain'd five talents more. ¹⁷ so he that had received two, gained likewise other two. ¹⁸ but he that had received one, went to dig a hole in the ground, and hid his lord's money. ¹⁹ after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them. ²⁰ accordingly he that had received five talents, came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents: besides those, there's five talents more, which I have gain'd. ²¹ his lord said to him, well done, thou art an honest faithful servant; thou hast been faithful in a small trust, I will give thee a much larger trust; go in and partake of thy master's diversions. ²² he also that had received two talents, came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents: here are two other talents which I have gain'd besides them. ²³ his lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful in a small trust, I will give thee a much larger trust: go in and partake of your master's joy. ²⁴ then came he who had received the one talent, and said, Lord, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered: ²⁵ fear made me hide the talent under ground: but there you have what is your own. ²⁶ his lord answered and said unto him, thou vile slothful wretch, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not scatter'd: ²⁷ should not you then have lodged my money at the banker's, and so at my return I should have received my own with interest. ²⁸ here, take the talent from him, and give it to him that has the ten. ²⁹ for he that makes use of what he has, shall have more; but if he makes no improvement thereof, it shall be taken from him. ³⁰ take then that worthless fellow, turn him out in the dark, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

³¹ When the son of man shall come in his majesty, accompanied with all his holy angels, he shall sit upon the throne of his glory. ³² then all nations shall be assembled before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats. ³³ and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ the king shall say to those 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 prest with hunger, 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 took care of me: I was in prison, and ye visited me. ³⁷ then will the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee in hunger, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? ³⁸ when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? ³⁹ or when did we see thee sick, or in prison, and visited thee? ⁴⁰ and the king will reply, I declare unto you, your having done this for one of the least of these my brethren, is the same thing as doing it for me. ⁴¹ then will he say to those on the left, depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² for I was prest with hunger, 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 will they answer, Lord, when did we see thee in hunger, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? ⁴⁵ to this he will reply, I declare unto you, your not doing this for one of the least of these, is the same thing as not doing it for me. ⁴⁶ and these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.