Matthew 25

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

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

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

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

5But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

6But at midnight a cry rang out: ‘Look, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

7Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.

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

9But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there not be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

10But while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.

11Later, the other virgins also come, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’

12But he answered, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’

13Therefore, stay awake, because you do not know the day or the hour.

14For it is like a man going on a journey, who called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them.

15And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and one to another, to each according to his own ability; and he went away.

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

17Likewise, the one with the two gained two more.

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

19After a long time, the master of those servants comes and settles accounts with them.

20And the one who had received the five talents came forward and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered five talents to me; look, I have gained another five talents.’

21His master said to him, ‘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 master.’

22Then the one who had received the two talents also came forward and said, ‘Lord, you handed over to me two talents. Look, I gained two more talents.’

23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things; I will put you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’

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

25And being afraid, I went away and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.

26But his master answered and said to him, ‘Wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter?

27Therefore, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and when I came, I would have received what was mine with interest.

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

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

30And throw the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

31But 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 gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,

33And he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.

34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are 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 clothed 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?’

38And when did we see you as a stranger and take you in, 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, ‘Truly I say to you, insofar as you did it to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.’

41Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Go away from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’

42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink.

43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, 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, insofar as you did not do it for one of the least of these, neither did you do it for me.’

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