Matthew 25:1-46 NASB
[1] “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. [2] Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. [3] For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them; [4] but the prudent ones took oil in flasks with their lamps. [5] Now while the groom was delaying, they all became drowsy and began to sleep. [6] But at midnight there finally was a shout: ‘Behold, the groom! Come out to meet him.’ [7] Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. [8] But the foolish virgins said to the prudent ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ [9] However, the prudent ones answered, ‘No, there most certainly would not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ [10] But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the groom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. [11] Yet later, the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ [12] But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ [13] Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour. [14] “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. [15] To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. [16] The one who had received the five talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents. [17] In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more. [18] But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. [19] “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. [20] The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have earned five more talents.’ [21] His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’ [22] “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have earned two more talents.’ [23] His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’ [24] “Now the one who had received the one talent also came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed. [25] And I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you still have what is yours.’ [26] “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You worthless, lazy slave! Did you know that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter seed? [27] Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. [28] Therefore: take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ [29] “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. [30] And throw the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [31] “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. [32] And 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; [33] and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. [34] “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [35] For 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 invited Me in; [36] naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ [37] Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? [38] And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? [39] And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ [40] And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’ [41] “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; [42] for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; [43] I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ [44] Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ [45] Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’ [46] These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
