The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1“At
that time
the
kingdom of
heaven
will be
like ten
virgins
who took
their
lamps and
went out
to meet
the
bridegroom.
2 Five
of them
were
foolish
and five
were wise.
3 The
foolish
ones took
their
lamps but
did not
take any
oil with
them.
4 The
wise ones,
however,
took oil
in jars
along with
their
lamps.
5 The
bridegroom
was a long
time in
coming,
and they
all became
drowsy and
fell
asleep.
6 “At
midnight
the cry
rang out:
‘Here’s
the
bridegroom!
Come out
to meet
him!’
7 “Then
all the
virgins
woke up
and
trimmed
their
lamps.
8 The
foolish
ones said
to the
wise,
‘Give us
some of
your oil;
our lamps
are going
out.’
9 “‘No,’
they
replied,
‘there may
not be
enough for
both us
and you.
Instead,
go to
those who
sell oil
and buy
some for
yourselves.’
10 “But
while they
were on
their way
to buy the
oil, the
bridegroom
arrived.
The
virgins
who were
ready went
in with
him to the
wedding
banquet.
And the
door was
shut.
11 “Later
the others
also came.
‘Lord,
Lord,’
they said,
‘open the
door for
us!’
12 “But
he
replied,
‘Truly I
tell you,
I don’t
know you.’
13 “Therefore
keep
watch,
because
you do not
know the
day or the
hour.
The Parable of the Bags of
Gold
14 “Again,
it will be
like a man
going on a
journey,
who called
his
servants
and
entrusted
his wealth
to them.
15 To
one he
gave five
bags of
gold, to
another
two bags,
and to
another
one bag,
each
according
to his
ability.
Then he
went on
his
journey.
16 The
man who
had
received
five bags
of gold
went at
once and
put his
money to
work and
gained
five bags
more.
17 So
also, the
one with
two bags
of gold
gained two
more.
18 But
the man
who had
received
one bag
went off,
dug a hole
in the
ground and
hid his
master’s
money.
19 “After
a long
time the
master of
those
servants
returned
and
settled
accounts
with them.
20 The
man who
had
received
five bags
of gold
brought
the other
five.
‘Master,’
he said,
‘you
entrusted
me with
five bags
of gold.
See, I
have
gained
five
more.’
21 “His
master
replied,
‘Well
done, good
and
faithful
servant!
You have
been
faithful
with a few
things; I
will put
you in
charge of
many
things.
Come and
share your
master’s
happiness!’
22 “The
man with
two bags
of gold
also came.
‘Master,’
he said,
‘you
entrusted
me with
two bags
of gold;
see, I
have
gained two
more.’
23 “His
master
replied,
‘Well
done, good
and
faithful
servant!
You have
been
faithful
with a few
things; I
will put
you in
charge of
many
things.
Come and
share your
master’s
happiness!’
24 “Then
the man
who had
received
one bag of
gold came.
‘Master,’
he said,
‘I knew
that you
are a hard
man,
harvesting
where you
have not
sown and
gathering
where you
have not
scattered
seed.
25 So
I was
afraid and
went out
and hid
your gold
in the
ground.
See, here
is what
belongs to
you.’
26 “His
master
replied,
‘You
wicked,
lazy
servant!
So you
knew that
I harvest
where I
have not
sown and
gather
where I
have not
scattered
seed?
27 Well
then, you
should
have put
my money
on deposit
with the
bankers,
so that
when I
returned I
would have
received
it back
with
interest.
28 “‘So
take the
bag of
gold from
him and
give it to
the one
who has
ten bags.
29 For
whoever
has will
be given
more, and
they will
have an
abundance.
Whoever
does not
have, even
what they
have will
be taken
from them.
30 And
throw that
worthless
servant
outside,
into the
darkness,
where
there will
be weeping
and
gnashing
of teeth.’
The Sheep and the Goats
31 “When
the Son of
Man comes
in his
glory, and
all the
angels
with him,
he will
sit on his
glorious
throne.
32 All
the
nations
will be
gathered
before
him,and he
will
separate
the people
one from
another as
a shepherd
separates
the sheep
from the
goats.
33 He
will put
the sheep
on his
right and
the goats
on his
left.
34 “Then
the King
will say
to those
on his
right,
‘Come, you
who are
blessed by
my Father;
take your
inheritance,
the
kingdom
prepared
for you
since the
creation
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 I
needed
clothes
and you
clothed
me, I was
sick and
you looked
after me,
I was in
prison and
you came
to visit
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 When
did we see
you a
stranger
and invite
you in, or
needing
clothes
and clothe
you?
39 When
did we see
you sick
or in
prison and
go to
visit
you?’
40 “The
King will
reply,
‘Truly I
tell you,
whatever
you did
for one of
the least
of these
brothers
and
sisters of
mine, you
did for
me.’
41 “Then
he will
say to
those on
his left,
‘Depart
from me,
you who
are
cursed,
into the
eternal
fire
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, I
needed
clothes
and you
did not
clothe me,
I was sick
and in
prison and
you did
not look
after me.’
44 “They
also will
answer,
‘Lord,
when did
we see you
hungry or
thirsty or
a stranger
or needing
clothes or
sick or in
prison,
and did
not help
you?’
45 “He
will
reply,
‘Truly I
tell you,
whatever
you did
not do for
one of the
least of
these, you
did not do
for me.’
46 “Then
they will
go away to
eternal
punishment,
but the
righteous
to eternal
life.”