| 1 This story throws light on what will happen in the kingdom of heaven. Ten bridesmaids went out with their lamps to meet the bridegroom. | |
| 2 Five of them were careless while the others were sensible. | |
| 3 The careless bridesmaids took their lamps as they were and did not bring extra oil. | |
| 4 But those who were sensible, brought with their lamps flasks of oil. | |
| 5 As the bridegroom delayed, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. | |
| 6 But at midnight, a cry rang out: ‘The bridegroom is here, come out and meet him!’ | |
| 7 All the maidens woke up at once and trimmed their lamps. | |
| 8 Then the careless ones said to the sensible ones: ‘Give us some oil, for our lamps are going out.’ | |
| 9 The sensible ones answered: ‘There may not be enough for both you and us. You had better go to those who sell and buy for yourselves.’ | |
| 10 They were out buying oil when the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him to the wedding feast, and the doors were shut. | |
| 11 Later the rest of the bridesmaids arrived and called out: ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ | |
| 12 But he answered: ‘Truly, I do not know you.’ | |
| 13 So, stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour. | |
| 14 Imagine someone who, before going abroad, summoned his servants to entrust his property to them. | |
| 15 He gave five talents of silver to one, then two to another, and one to a third, each one according to his ability; and he went away. | |
| 16 He who received five talents went at once to do business with the money and gained another five. | |
| 17 The one who received two did the same and gained another two. | |
| 18 But the one with one talent dug a hole and hid his master’s money. | |
| 19 After a long time, the master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning. | |
| 20 The one who received five talents came with another five talents, saying: ‘Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, but see I have gained five more with them.’ | |
| 21 The master answered: ‘Very well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.’ | |
| 22 Then the one who had two talents came and said: ‘Lord, you entrusted me with two talents; I have two more which I gained with them.’ | |
| 23 The master said: ‘Well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in little things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.’ | |
| 24 Finally, the one who had received one talent came and said: ‘Master, I know that you are an exacting man. You reap what you have not sown and gather what you have not invested. | |
| 25 I was afraid, so I hid your money in the ground. Here, take what is yours.’ | |
| 26 But his master replied: ‘Wicked and worthless servant, you know that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not invested. | |
| 27 Then you should have deposited my money in the bank, and you would have given it back to me with interest on my return. | |
| 28 Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten. | |
| 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them. | |
| 30 As for that useless servant, throw him out into the dark where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ | |
| 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his Glory. | |
| 32 All the nations will be brought before him, and as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, | |
| 33 so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. | |
| 34 The King will say to those on his right: ‘Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. | |
| 35 For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. | |
| 36 I was a stranger and you welcomed me into your house. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to see me.’ | |
| 37 Then the good people will ask him: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food; thirsty and give you drink, | |
| 38 or a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? | |
| 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to see you?’ | |
| 40 The King will answer, ‘Truly, I say to you: whenever you did this to these little ones who are my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.’ | |
| 41 Then he will say to those on his left: ‘Go, cursed people, out of my sight into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels! | |
| 42 For I was hungry and you did not give me anything to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; | |
| 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me into your house; I was naked and you did not clothe me; I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ | |
| 44 They, too, will ask: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ | |
| 45 The King will answer them: ‘Truly, I say to you: whatever you did not do for one of these little ones, you did not do for me.’ | |
| 46 And these will go into eternal punishment, but the just to eternal life.” | |
