¹ Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bride-groom.

² Five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

³ Those who 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 delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

⁶ And at midnight a cry was made: Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go you out to meet him.

⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

⁸ And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out.

⁹ But the wise answered, saying: Lest there may not be enough for us and you, go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.

¹⁰ While they were going to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage-supper; and the door was closed.

¹¹ Afterward the other virgins also came, and said: Lord! Lord! open for us.

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

¹³ Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

¹⁴ For as a man, on leaving his country, called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods:

¹⁵ To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one; to each one, according to his own ability, and immediately left his country.

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

¹⁷ In like manner also, he that had received the two, gained other two.

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

¹⁹ After a long time, the lord of those servants came and settled with them.

²⁰ And he that had received the five talents came and brought other five talents, and said: Lord, you delivered to me five talents: see, I have gained other five talents in addition to them.

²¹ His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many. Enter into the joy of your lord.

²² And he also that had received the two talents came, and said: Lord, you delivered to me two talents; see, I have gained other two talents in addition to them.

²³ His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many. Enter into the joy of your lord.

²⁴ But he that had received the one talent came, and said: Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.

²⁵ And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth; see, you have yours.

²⁶ His lord answered and said to him: Wicked and slothful servant; did you know that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter?

²⁷ Therefore, you ought to have put my money with the bankers; and, when I came, I could have received my own with interest.

²⁸ Therefore, take from him the talent, and give it to him that has the ten talents.

²⁹ For to every one that has, it shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that has not, even that which he has shall be taken away.

³⁰ And cast the unprofitable servant into the darkness without. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

³¹ When the Son of man shall come in his own glory, and all the holy angels with him, then will he sit on the throne of his own glory;

³² and all nations shall be gathered before him; and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats.

³³ And he will place the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left.

³⁴ Then the King will say to those on his right hand: Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

³⁵ For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me to your houses;

³⁶ naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.

³⁷ Then will the righteous answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and feed thee? or thirsty, and give thee drink?

³⁸ When did we see thee a stranger, and take thee to our home? or naked, and clothe thee?

³⁹ When did we see thee sick, or in prison, and come to thee?

⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them: Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.

⁴¹ Then will he say to those on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

⁴² For I was hungry, and you gave me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;

⁴³ I was a stranger, and you took me not to your houses; naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.

⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, and say: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee?

⁴⁵ Then will he answer them, saying: Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.

⁴⁶ And these shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.