1Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, the friends of the bride, who took their lights, and went out with the purpose of meeting the husband.

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

3For the foolish, when they took their lights, took no oil with them.

4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lights.

5Now the husband was a long time in coming, and they all went to sleep.

6But in the middle of the night there is a cry, The husband comes! Go out to him.

7Then all those virgins got up, and made ready their lights.

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

9But the wise made answer, saying, There may not be enough for us and you; it would be better for you to go to the traders and get oil for yourselves.

10And while they went to get oil, the master came; and those who were ready went in with him to the feast: and the door was shut.

11After that the other virgins came, saying, Lord, Lord, let us in.

12But he made answer and said, Truly I say to you, I have no knowledge of you.

13Keep watch, then, because you are not certain of the day or of the hour.

14For it is as when a man, about to take a journey, got his servants together, and gave them his property.

15And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to everyone as he was able; and he went on his journey.

16Straight away he who had been given the five talents went and did trade with them, and made five more.

17In the same way he who had been given the two got two more.

18But he who was given the one went away and put it in a hole in the earth, and kept his lord's money in a secret place.

19Now after a long time the lord of those servants comes, and makes up his account with them.

20And he who had the five talents came with his other five talents, saying, Lord, you gave into my care five talents: see, I have got five more.

21His lord said to him, Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a small thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the joy of your lord.

22And he who had the two talents came and said, Lord, you gave into my care two talents: see, I have got two more.

23His lord said to him, Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a small thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the joy of your lord.

24And he who had had the one talent came and said, Lord, I had knowledge that you are a hard man, getting in grain where you have not put seed, and making profits for which you have done no work:

25And I was in fear, and went away, and put your talent in the earth: here is what is yours.

26But his lord in answer said to him, You are a bad and unready servant; if you had knowledge that I get in grain where I did not put seed, and make profits for which I have done no work,

27Why, then, did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I would have got back what is mine with interest?

28Take away, then, his talent and give it to him who has the ten talents.

29For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have more: but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

30And put out the servant who is of no profit into the outer dark: there will be weeping and cries of sorrow.

31But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then will he be seated in his glory:

32And before him all the nations will come together; and they will be parted one from another, as the sheep are parted from the goats by the keeper.

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

34Then will the King say to those on his right, Come, you who have the blessing of my Father, into the kingdom made ready for you before the world was:

35For I was in need of food, and you gave it to me: I was in need of drink, and you gave it to me: I was wandering, and you took me in;

36I had no clothing, and you gave it to me: when I was ill, or in prison, you came to me.

37Then will the upright make answer to him, saying, Lord, when did we see you in need of food, and give it to you? or in need of drink, and give it to you?

38And when did we see you wandering, and take you in? or without clothing, and give it to you?

39And when did we see you ill, or in prison, and come to you?

40And the King will make answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Because you did it to the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

41Then will he say to those on the left, Go from me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which is ready for the Evil One and his angels:

42For I was in need of food, and you gave it not to me; I was in need of drink, and you gave it not to me:

43I was wandering, and you took me not in; without clothing, and you gave me no clothing; ill, and in prison, and you came not to me.

44Then will they make answer, saying, Lord, when did we see you in need of food or drink, or wandering, or without clothing, or ill, or in prison, and did not take care of you?

45Then will he make answer to them, saying, Truly I say to you, Because you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me.

46And these will go away into eternal punishment; but the upright into eternal life.