1»The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2»Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3»The foolish took no oil with their lamps. 4»The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5»They all slept, because the bridegroom delayed his arrival. 6»There was a shout at midnight. ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come meet him.’ 7»The virgins awoke and trimmed their lamps. 8»All the foolish virgins said to the wise: ‘Give us your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9»But the wise answered: ‘There will not be enough for both of us. Go to the dealers and buy oil for yourself.’ 10»While they were away, the bridegroom came. They that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast and the door was shut. 11»Later the other virgins came, saying: ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 12»But he told them: ‘I do not know you.’ 13»Watch therefore, for you do not know the day or the hour. 14»It is like a man going to another country. He called his servants and put them in charge of his property. 15»To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one. He assigned according to the servants’ ability. Then he went on his journey. 16»Right away the servant who received the five talents traded with them and made another five talents. 17»In like manner, he who received the two gained another two. 18»He who received the one dug a hole in the ground and hid his lord’s money. 19»After a long time the lord of those servants came back to settle with them. 20»The servant who received five talents brought another five talents. He said: ‘Lord, here are your five talents, plus the five I gained.’ 21»His lord said: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, so I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22»The one who received two talents said: ‘Lord you gave me two talents and I gained another two talents.’ 23»His lord said: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24»The servant who received one talent said: ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man. You reap where you did not sow and gather where you did not scatter. 25»‘I was afraid, so I hid your talent in the earth. See, you have what is yours.’ 26»But his lord answered: ‘You wicked and lazy servant. You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter. 27»‘You should have put my money in the bank. I should have received my money back plus interest. 28»‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29»‘More will be given to every one who has and he will have abundance. He who does not have will have every thing taken away. 30»‘Throw the worthless servant into outer darkness. There will be crying and grinding of teeth.’ 31»When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32»All nations will be gathered before him. He will then separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33»He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34»The King will say to those on his right hand: ‘Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35»‘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 took me in. 36»‘I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37»The righteous will answer him: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38»‘When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and dress you? 39»‘When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ 40»The King will answer: ‘To the extent that you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41»Then he will tell those on his left: ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the ever-burning fire that is prepared for the Devil and his fallen angels. 42»‘I was hungry and you did not feed me. I was thirsty and you did not give me drink. 43»‘I was a stranger and you did not take me in. I was naked and you did not dress me. I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44»They will also ask: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison and not minister to you?’ 45»The King will answer: ‘To the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of my brothers, you did not do it to me.’ 46»These will go away into ever-burning fire everlasting cutting offdeathtotal destructiondoompunishmenteverlasting penalty, but the righteous to everlasting life.’«