1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins , which took their lamps , and went forth to meet the bridegroom .
2 And five of them were wise , and five were foolish .
3 They that were foolish took their lamps , and took no oil with them :
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps .
5 While the bridegroom tarried , they all slumbered and slept .
6 And at midnight there was a cry made , Behold , the bridegroom cometh ; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose , and trimmed their lamps .
8 And the foolish said unto the wise , Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 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 .
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory , and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory :
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations : and he shall separate them one from another , as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats :
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand , but the goats on the left .
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand , Come , ye blessed of my Father , inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world :
35 For I was an hungered , and ye gave me meat : I was thirsty , and ye gave me drink : I was a stranger , and ye took me in:
36 Naked , and ye clothed me: I was sick , and ye visited me: I was in prison , and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying , Lord , when saw we thee an hungered , and fed thee ? or thirsty , and gave thee drink ?
38 When saw we thee a stranger , and took thee in? or naked , and clothed thee ?
39 Or when saw we thee sick , or in prison , and came unto thee ?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them , Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren , ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand , Depart from me, ye cursed , into everlasting fire , prepared for the devil and his angels :
42 For I was an hungered , and ye gave me no meat : I was thirsty , and ye gave me no drink :
43 I was a stranger , and ye took me not in: naked , and ye clothed me not: sick , and in prison , and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying , Lord , when saw we thee an hungered , or athirst , or a stranger , or naked , or sick , or in prison , and did not minister unto thee ?
45 Then shall he answer them , saying , Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these , ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment : but the righteous into life eternal .