1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish, taking their lamps, took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all nodded off and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry, ‘Look! The bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet Him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, perhaps there isn’t enough for us and you. But you go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 Ad while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Master, Master, open to us.’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 So stay alert, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
14 “For the kingdom is like a man travelling abroad, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. And immediately he went on the journey. 16 Then the one who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And in the same way, the one who got the two gained another two also. 18 But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth, and hid his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them. 20 So he who had received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents. Look, I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’
21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22 “He also who had received the two talents came and said, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents. Look, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’
23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent also came and said, ‘Master, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter. 25 I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Look, have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter. 27 So you ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There, there will be crying and clenching of teeth.’
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered in front of Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will tell those on 35 for 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. 36 I was naked, and you clothed Me. I was sick, and you looked after Me. I was in prison, and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Master, when did we see You hungry, and feed You; or thirsty, and give You a drink? 38 When did we see You as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
40 “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.’ 41 Then He will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the slanderer and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you didn’t give Me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t take Me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t look after Me.’
44 “Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Master, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t attend to You?’
45 “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, to the extent that you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, You didn’t do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”