Matthew 25:1-46 AMPC

[1] Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. [2] Five of them were foolish (thoughtless, without forethought) and five were wise (sensible, intelligent, and prudent). [3] For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them; [4] But the wise took flasks of oil along with them [also] with their lamps. [5] While the bridegroom lingered and was slow in coming, they all began nodding their heads, and they fell asleep. [6] But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him! [7] Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order. [8] And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. [9] But the wise replied, There will not be enough for us and for you; go instead to the dealers and buy for yourselves. [10] But while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were prepared went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. [11] Later the other virgins also came and said, Lord, Lord, open [the door] to us! [12] But He replied, I solemnly declare to you, I do not know you [I am not acquainted with you]. [13] Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active], for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come. [14] For it is like a man who was about to take a long journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his property. [15] To one he gave five talents [probably about $5,000], to another two, to another one-to each in proportion to his own personal ability. Then he departed and left the country. [16] He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he gained five talents more. [17] And likewise he who had received the two talents-he also gained two talents more. [18] But he who had received the one talent went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. [19] Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. [20] And he who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, Master, you entrusted to me five talents; see, here I have gained five talents more. [21] His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys. [22] And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you entrusted two talents to me; here I have gained two talents more. [23] His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys. [24] He who had received one talent also came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a harsh and hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you had not winnowed [the grain]. [25] So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is your own. [26] But his master answered him, You wicked and lazy and idle servant! Did you indeed know that I reap where I have not sowed and gather [grain] where I have not winnowed? [27] Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what was my own with interest. [28] So take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. [29] For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will be furnished richly so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away. [30] And throw the good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. [31] When the Son of Man comes in His glory (His majesty and splendor), and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. [32] All nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them [the people] from one another as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats; [33] And He will cause the sheep to stand at His right hand, but the goats at His left. [34] Then the King will say to those at His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God and appointed to eternal salvation], inherit (receive as your own) the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [35] For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you brought Me together with yourselves and welcomed and entertained and lodged Me, [36] I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me with help and ministering care, I was in prison and you came to see Me. [37] Then the just and upright will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and gave You food, or thirsty and gave You something to drink? [38] And when did we see You a stranger and welcomed and entertained You, or naked and clothed You? [39] And when did we see You sick or in prison and came to visit You? [40] And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me. [41] Then He will say to those at His left hand, Begone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! [42] For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me and entertain Me, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me with help and ministering care. [44] Then they also [in their turn] will answer, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? [45] And He will reply to them, Solemnly I declare to you, in so far as you failed to do it for the least [in the estimation of men] of these, you failed to do it for Me. [46] Then they will go away into eternal punishment, but those who are just and upright and in right standing with God into eternal life.