Matthew 25:2-46

2Five of them were foolish, and five were 1prudent. 3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the 2prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the 3prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were 4ready went in with him to 5the wedding feast; and 6the door was shut. 11Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘7Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 138Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

14“9For it is just like a man 10about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15To one he gave five 1112talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he 13went on his journey. 16Immediately the one who had received the five 14talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his 15master’s money.

19“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and 16settled accounts with them. 20The one who had received the five 17talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and 18faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will 19put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your 20master.’

22“Also the one who had received the two 21talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and 22faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

24“And the one also who had received the one 23talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

26“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27Then you ought to have put my money 24in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

29“25For 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. 30Throw out the worthless slave into 26the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

31“But when 27the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then 28He will sit on His glorious throne. 32All the nations will be 29gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, 30as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33and He will put the sheep 31on His right, and the goats 32on the left.

34“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, 33inherit the kingdom prepared for you 34from the foundation of the world. 35For 35I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; 36I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 3637naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you 38visited Me; 39I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 4040The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, 41to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

41“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘42Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the 43eternal fire which has been prepared for 44the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43I 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.’ 44Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not 45take care of You?’ 45Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46These will go away into 46eternal punishment, but the righteous into 47eternal life.”