25 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

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

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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25 1 The virgins looking for the Bridegroom. 13 We must watch. 14 The talents delivered unto the servants. 24 The evil servants. 30 After what sort the last judgment shall be. 41 The cursed.

Then [a]the kingdom of heaven shall be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and [b]went forth to meet the bridegroom.

And five of them were wise, and five foolish.

The foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them.

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Now while the bridegroom tarried long, all [c]slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh: go out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are out.

But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there will not be enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the wedding, and the gate was shut.

11 Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered, and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13 (A)Watch therefore: for ye know neither the day, nor the hour, when the son of man will come.

14 (B)[d]For the kingdom of heaven is as a man that going into a strange country, called his servants, and delivered to them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every man after his own [e]ability, and straightway went from home.

16 Then he that had received the five talents, went and occupied with them, and gained other five talents.

17 Likewise also he that received two, he also gained other two.

18 But he that received that one, went and dug it in the earth, and hid his master’s money.

19 But after a long season, the master of those servants came, and reckoned with them.

20 Then came he that had received five talents, and brought other five talents, saying, Master, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained with them other five talents.

21 Then his master said unto him, It is well done good servant and faithful, Thou hast been faithful in little, I will make thee ruler over much: [f]enter into thy master’s joy.

22 Also he that had received two talents, came, and said, Master, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents more.

23 His master said unto him, It is well done good servant, and faithful, Thou hast been faithful in little, I will make thee ruler over much: enter into thy master’s joy.

24 Then he that had received the one talent, came, and said, Master, I knew that thou wast an hard man, which reapest where thou sowedst not, and gatherest where thou strawedst not:

25 I was therefore afraid, and went, and hid thy talent in the earth: behold, thou hast thine own.

26 And his master answered, and said unto him, Thou evil servant, and slothful, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I strawed not.

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the [g]exchangers, and then at my coming should I have received mine own with vantage.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 (C)For unto every man that hath, it shall be given, and he shall have abundance, and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away.

30 Cast therefore that unprofitable servant into utter (D)darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 25:1 We must desire strength at God’s hand, which may serve us as a torch while we walk through this darkness, to bring us to our desired end: otherwise if we become slothful and negligent as weary of our pains and travail, we shall be shut out of the doors.
  2. Matthew 25:1 The pomp of bridals was wont for the most part to be kept in the night seasons, and that by damsels.
  3. Matthew 25:5 Their eyes being heavy with sleep.
  4. Matthew 25:14 Christ witnesseth that there shall be a long time between his departure to his father, and his coming again to us, but yet notwithstanding that, he will at that day take an account not only of the rebellious and obstinate, how they have bestowed that which they received of him, but also of his household servants, which have not through slothfulness employed those gifts which he bestowed upon them.
  5. Matthew 25:15 According to the wisdom and skill in dealing, which was given them.
  6. Matthew 25:21 Come, and receive the fruit of goodness, now the Lord’s joy is doubled, John 15:11, that my joy may remain in you, and your joy be fulfilled.
  7. Matthew 25:27 Table mates which have their shop bulks or tables set abroad, where they let out money to usury.