Matthew 25

1Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

3For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take oil with them.

4But the wise took oil in their flasks with their lamps.

5But as the bridegroom delayed, they all grew drowsy and slept.

6But at midnight a cry arose: "Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!"

7Then all those virgins awoke and trimmed their own lamps.

8But the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out."

9But the wise answered, "No, lest there not be enough for us and you; go instead to those who sell, and buy for yourselves."

10As they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and the ready ones entered with him into the wedding, and the door was shut.

11Later the rest of the virgins came too, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us."

12But he answered, "Amen, I say to you, I do not know you."

13Keep alert therefore, because you know neither the day nor the hour.

14For it is just like a man about to go abroad who called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them.

15He gave five talents to one, two to a second, one to a third—to each according to his individual ability—and departed immediately.

16The one who had received the five talents went and worked with them, and gained five more.

17Likewise, the one with two gained another two.

18But the one who had received one went away and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.

19After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20And the one who had received five talents approached and offered five more talents, saying, "Lord, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I gained five others."

21His lord said to him, “Well, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things; I will appoint you over many things; enter into the joy of your lord.”

22The one with two talents also came forward and said, "Lord, you entrusted two talents to me; see, I gained two more talents."

23His lord said to him, “Well, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things; I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”

24Then the one who had received one talent came forward and said, "Lord, I knew that you are a severe man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter."

25And afraid, I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have yours.

26His master answered him, "You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter."

27Therefore you ought to have put my money with the bankers, and when I came I would have received my own with interest.

28So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents.

29For to everyone who has, it will be given, and it will abound; but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

30And cast the useless servant into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

31When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.

32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from each other, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33And he will set the sheep on his right, but the goats on his left.

34Then the king will say to those at his right, "Come, you blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

35For 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 welcomed me.

36I was naked, and you dressed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.

37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?”

38When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

39And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?

40And the King will answer them, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did to one of the least of these my brothers, you did to me.”

41Then he will also say to those on the left, "Depart from me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."

42For I was hungry, and you did not give me anything to eat; I was thirsty, and you did not give me drink.

43I was a stranger, and you did not gather me in; naked, and you did not clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.

44Then they too will answer, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick, or in prison, and not serve you?"

45Then he will answer them, saying, "Truly I say to you, whatever you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me either."

46And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.