Matthew 25

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

The kingdom of heaven will be like ten young women who took their lamps and went out eagerly to meet the bridegroom.

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Five were insightful, five were naive.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

Those who acted thoughtlessly brought their lamps but forgot to bring oil.

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

The smart ones carried extra oil for their lamps, just in case.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

As the groom was delayed, they all fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

In the heart of the night, a call echoed, "Look, the groom is here! Go, welcome him."

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Then, all the innocent young women woke up, and with care, they brightened their lanterns.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

In desperation, the unprepared pleaded with the wise, "Share your oil, for our lights have dimmed and darkness surrounds us."

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.

The wise ones replied gently, "No, we can't share, we might run out. It's better you go and buy your own from the sellers."

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.

While they were away shopping, the groom arrived. Those who were prepared joined him in the wedding celebration, and the door was closed behind them.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

Then the remaining young women pleaded, "Master, Master, please let us in."

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

But he answered with certainty, "Truly, I tell you, I don't know you."

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Stay alert, because you never know when the moment will come for the return of the Messiah.

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.

The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a long journey, who entrusts his possessions to his servants.

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.

He gave one person five talents, another two, and another just one, each according to their unique abilities, then he immediately set off on his journey.

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

The man who was given five talents took them and, with a heart full of courage and determination, invested them wisely, doubling his original amount.

And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

Similarly, the one who was given two, with joy and determination, he too doubled his share.

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

But the one who received a single talent, out of fear and insecurity, buried it in the ground, hiding his master's wealth.

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

After a while, the master of those workers returned, and settled accounts with them.

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.

The man who was given five talents came forward, brimming with joy and pride. He said, "Master, you entrusted me with five talents. Look, I've worked hard and doubled it, earning five more!"

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.

His master praised him, saying, "Well done, my loyal and trustworthy servant. You've proven your faithfulness in small matters, so I'll entrust you with greater responsibilities. Now, come and share in your master's happiness."

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.

The one who was given two talents approached and said, "Master, you entrusted me with two talents. Look, I've successfully doubled them."

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.

His master praised him, "Well done, my loyal and trustworthy servant. You've managed small tasks well, so I'll entrust you with greater responsibilities. Now, come and share in my happiness."

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:

The man who had received one talent approached and said, "Master, I know you're a tough man, reaping benefits where you haven't worked, and collecting where you haven't invested."

And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

Out of fear, I hid your money in the ground. See, here's what belongs to you.

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:

His master replied with disappointment and anger, "You lazy and evil servant, you knew that I harvest where I haven't planted and gather where I haven't scattered."

Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

You should have invested my money with bankers, so when I returned, I would have gained interest.

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

Take the money from him, and give it to the one who has ten talents.

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.

Those who have much will receive more, overflowing with abundance. But those who have little will lose even that.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Throw out the useless servant into the lonely darkness, where there will be tears and intense regret.

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:

When the day comes for the Son of man to return in all his splendor, accompanied by a host of sacred angels, he will take his rightful place on his glorious throne.

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:

All nations will gather before him. Like a shepherd sorting sheep from goats, he will distinguish each from the other.

And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

He will lovingly place the sheep on his favored right side, while the goats will be positioned on the less favored left.

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:

Then, the King will joyfully invite those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, come inherit the kingdom that's been ready for you since the world began."

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

When I was starving, you fed me. When I was parched, you quenched my thirst. When I was alone and lost, you welcomed me with open arms.

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

When I was bare, you gave me clothes. When I was ill, you cared for me. When I was locked away, you came to see me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

The virtuous will then question Him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and offer you food, or thirsty and provide you a drink?"

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or see you without clothes and provide for you?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

When did we see you unwell or in jail, and come to visit you?

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.

The King will sincerely respond, "Truly, when you showed kindness to even the smallest of my family, it was as if you were doing it for me."

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:

Then, He will turn to those on His left and say, "Leave my presence, you who are damned, into the eternal flames, a place meant for the devil and his followers."

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

I was starving, yet you didn't feed me; I was parched, but you didn't quench my thirst.

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.

You ignored me when I was a stranger, left me unclothed and vulnerable, and neglected me when I was sick and imprisoned.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

They will then question Him, asking, "Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, without clothes, sick, or in jail, and not help you?"

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.

He will respond, "Truly, if you didn't help the least among you, you didn't help me."

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

These will go away into everlasting punishment, while the good-hearted will enjoy eternal life.