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¹ Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.² And 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 all slumbered and slept.⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out 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 But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.¹⁰ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say to you, I know you not.¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man cometh.

¹⁴ For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man traveling into a far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods.¹⁵ And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and forthwith took his journey.¹⁶ Then he that had received the five talents, went and traded with the same, and gained other five talents.¹⁷ And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained other two.¹⁸ But he that had received one, went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.¹⁹ After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.²⁰ And he that had received five talents, came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst to me five talents: behold, I have gained besides them five talents more.²¹ His lord said to him, Well done [thou] good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.²² He also that had received two talents came, and said, Lord, thou deliveredst to me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents besides them.²³ His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.²⁴ Then he who had received the one talent came, and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed:²⁵ And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [what is] thine.²⁶ His lord answered and said to him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not strewed:²⁷ Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received my own with interest.²⁸ Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] to him who hath ten talents.²⁹ For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.³⁰ And cast ye the unprofitable servant into utter darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

³¹ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then will he sit upon the throne of his glory:³² And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:³³ And he will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.³⁴ Then will the King say to them 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 hungry, and ye gave me food: 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 visited me: I was in prison, and ye came to me.³⁷ Then will the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?³⁸ When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?³⁹ Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came to thee?⁴⁰ And the king will answer and say to them, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] to me.⁴¹ Then will he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:⁴² For I was hungry, and ye gave me no food: 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 also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee?⁴⁵ Then will he answer them, saying, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.⁴⁶ And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.