1"THEN the kingdom of heaven will be like ten maidens who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise; 3for the foolish ones took their lamps, but took with them no oil; 4while the wise took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was late in coining, all grew drowsy and slept. 6At midnight a cry was raised, 'Here is the bridegroom. Come out to meet him!' 7Then all those maidens arose and trimmed their lamps. 8But the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9But the wise answered, 'There may not be enough for us and you. Go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' 10While they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut. 11Afterwards came the rest of the maidens, saying, 'Master, Master, open for us.' 12But he answered, 'I tell you truly I do not know you.' 13Watch, therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour. 14"It is just as when a man going abroad called his servants and committed to them his property. 15To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his particular ability. Then he went abroad. 16At once he who received the five talents went and traded with them and gained five more. 17In the same way he who received the two gained two more. 18But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19After a long time the master of those servants came and had an accounting with them. 20The man who had received the five talents came and brought five talents more, saying, 'Master, you committed to me five talents; see, I have gained five talents more.' 21His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will place you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.' 22The man who had received the two talents came and said, 'Master, you committed to me two talents; see, I have gained two talents more.' 23His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will place you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.' 24Then the man who had received the one talent came and said, 'Master, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not thresh, 25and I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. There, you have your own.' 26His master replied, 'You wicked and idle servant. Did you know that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not thresh? 27Then you ought to have turned over my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received my own with interest. 28Take from him the talent and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29For to every one who has will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken. 30And the worthless servant throw out into the darkness outside. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.' 31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne 32and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will divide them one from another as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. 33He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. 34Then will the King say to those on his right hand, 'Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world! 35For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; 36naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you cared for me. I was in prison and you came to me.' 37Then will the righteous answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?' 40The King will answer, 'I tell you truly, inasmuch as you did it to one of these my brothers \'97 even the least \'97 you did it to me.' 41Then he will say to those on his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the fire eternal prepared for the Devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me no food; I was thirsty and you gave me no drink; 43I was a stranger and you did not take me in; naked and you did not clothe me; sick and in prison and you did not care for me.' 44Then they too will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not serve you?' 45He will answer them, 'I tell you truly inasmuch as you did not do it to one of these least, you did not do it to me.' 46These will go away into punishment eternal, but the righteous into life eternal."