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¹ Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.² And five of them were foolish and five wise.³ But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them.⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps.⁵ And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh. Go ye forth to meet him.⁷ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.⁸ And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.⁹ The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves.¹⁰ Now whilst 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 But at last came also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us.¹² But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not.¹³ Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.

¹⁴ For even as a man going into a far country called his servants and delivered to them his goods;¹⁵ And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey.¹⁶ And he that had received the five talents went his way and traded with the same and gained other five.¹⁷ And in like manner he that had received the two gained other two.¹⁸ But he that had received the one, going his way, digged into the earth and hid his lord’s money.¹⁹ But after a long time the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them.²⁰ And he that had received the five talents coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord, thou didst deliver to me five talents. Behold I have gained other five over and above.²¹ His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.²² And he also that had received the two talents came and said: Lord, thou deliveredst two talents to me. Behold I have gained other two.²³ His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.²⁴ But he that had received the one talent, came and said: Lord, I know that thou art a hard man; thou reapest where thou hast not sown and gatherest where thou hast not strewed.²⁵ And being afraid, I went and hid thy talent in the earth. Behold here thou hast that which is thine.²⁶ And his lord answering, said to him: Wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sow not and gather where I have not strewed.²⁷ Thou oughtest therefore to have committed my money to the bankers: and at my coming I should have received my own with usury.²⁸ Take ye away therefore the talent from him and give it him that hath ten talents.²⁹ For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have shall be taken away.³⁰ And the unprofitable servant, cast ye out into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

³¹ And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty.³² And all nations shall be gathered together before him: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats:³³ And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left.³⁴ Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.³⁵ For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in:³⁶ Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me.³⁷ Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry and fed thee: thirsty and gave thee drink?³⁸ Or when did we see thee a stranger and took thee in? Or naked and covered thee?³⁹ Or when did we see thee sick or in prison and came to thee?⁴⁰ And the king answering shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.⁴¹ Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels.⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me not to eat: I was thirsty and you gave me not to drink.⁴³ I was a stranger and you took me not in: naked and you covered me not: sick and in prison and you did not visit me.⁴⁴ Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to thee?⁴⁵ Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen: I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.⁴⁶ And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting.