Matthäus 25

¹"Then will the Kingdom of the Heavens be found to be like ten bridesmaids who took their torches and went out to meet the bridegroom.
²Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
³For the foolish, when they took their torches, did not provide themselves with oil;
⁴but the wise, besides their torches, took oil in their flasks.
⁵The bridegroom was a long time in coming, so that meanwhile they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
⁶But at midnight there is a loud cry, "`The bridegroom! Go out and meet him!'
⁷"Then all those bridesmaids roused themselves and trimmed their torches.
⁸"`Give us some of your oil,' said the foolish ones to the wise, `for our torches are going out.'
⁹"`But perhaps,' replied the wise, `there will not be enough for all of us. Go to the shops rather, and buy some for yourselves.'
¹⁰"So they went to buy. But meanwhile the bridegroom came; those bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.
¹¹"Afterwards the other bridesmaids came and cried, "`Sir, Sir, open the door to us.'
¹²"`In solemn truth I tell you,' he replied, `I do not know you.'
¹³"Keep awake therefore; for you know neither the day nor the hour.
¹⁴"Why, it is like a man who, when going on his travels, called his bondservants and entrusted his property to their care.
¹⁵To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one--to each according to his individual capacity; and then started from home.
¹⁶Without delay the one who had received the five talents went and employed them in business, and gained five more.
¹⁷In the same way he who had the two gained two more.
¹⁸But the man who had received the one went and dug a hole and buried his master's money.
¹⁹"After a long lapse of time the master of those servants returned, and had a reckoning with them.
²⁰The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, and said, "`Sir, it was five talents that you entrusted to me: see, I have gained five more.'
²¹"`You have done well, good and trustworthy servant,' replied his master; `you have been trustworthy in the management of a little, I will put you in charge of much: share your master's joy.'
²²"The second, who had received the two talents, came and said, "`Sir, it was two talents you entrusted to me: see, I have gained two more.'
²³"`Good and trustworthy servant, you have done well,' his master replied; `you have been trustworthy in the management of a little, I will put you in charge of much: share your master's joy.'
²⁴"But, next, the man who had the one talent in his keeping came and said, "`Sir, I knew you to be a severe man, reaping where you had not sown and garnering what you had not winnowed.
²⁵So being afraid I went and buried your talent in the ground: there you have what belongs to you.'
²⁶"`You wicked and slothful servant,' replied his master, `did you know that I reap where I have not sown, and garner what I have not winnowed?
²⁷Your duty then was to deposit my money in some bank, and so when I came I should have got back my property with interest.
²⁸So take away the talent from him, and give it to the man who has the ten.'
²⁹(For to every one who has, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has nothing, even what he has shall be taken away.)
³⁰`But as for this worthless servant, put him out into the darkness outside: *there* will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.'
³¹"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then will He sit upon His glorious throne,
³²and all the nations will be gathered into His presence. And He will separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
³³and will make the sheep stand at His right hand, and the goats at His left.
³⁴"Then the King will say to those at His right, "`Come, my Father's blessed ones, receive your inheritance of the Kingdom which has been divinely intended for you ever since the creation of the world.
³⁵For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was homeless, you gave me a welcome;
³⁶when I was ill-clad, you clothed me; when I was sick, you visited me; when I was in prison, you came to see me.'
³⁷"`When, Lord,' the righteous will reply, `did we see Thee hungry, and feed Thee; or thirsty, and give Thee drink?
³⁸When did we see Thee homeless, and give Thee a welcome? or ill-clad, and clothe Thee?
³⁹When did we see Thee sick or in prison, and come to see Thee?'
⁴⁰"But the King will answer them, "`In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you rendered such services to one of the humblest of these my brethren, you rendered them to myself.'
⁴¹"Then will He say to those at His left, "`Begone from me, with the curse resting upon you, into the Fire of the Ages, which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels.
⁴²For when I was hungry, you gave me nothing to eat; when thirsty, you gave me nothing to drink;
⁴³when homeless, you gave me no welcome; ill-clad, you clothed me not; sick or in prison, you visited me not.'
⁴⁴"Then will they also answer, "`Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty or homeless or ill-clad or sick or in prison, and not come to serve Thee?'
⁴⁵"But he will reply, "`In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you withheld such services from one of the humblest of these, you withheld them from me.'
⁴⁶"And these shall go away into the Punishment of the Ages, but the righteous into the Life of the Ages."

Public Domain