Mat 25 | Murd | STEP | Then may the kingdom of heaven be shadowed forth by ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom and bride.

‏ Matthew 25

1 Then may the kingdom of heaven be shadowed forth by ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom and bride. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 And the foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them. 4 But the wise took oil in vessels, with their lamps. 5 And while the bridegroom delayed, they all became sleepy and fell asleep. 6 And at midnight there was an outcry: Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye 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, behold, our lamps have gone out. 9 The wise answered and said: We must refuse, lest there should not be enough for us and for you: but go ye to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready, went with him into the house of the nuptials, and the door was shut. 11 And at length came also the other virgins, and said: Our lord, our lord, open to us. 12 But he answered, and said to them: Verily I say to you, I know you not. 13 Watch, therefore, seeing ye know not the day nor the hour. 14 For, as a man that took a journey, called his servants and delivered to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one: to each, according to his ability: and he immediately departed. 16 Then he that received five talents, went and traded with them, and gained five more. 17 And likewise: the one of two talents, by trading gained two more. 18 But he that received one, went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19 And after a long time, the lord of those servants came, and received account from them. 20 And he who had received the five talents, came and brought five others; and said, My lord, thou gavest me five talents; behold, I have gained by trading five more to them. 21 His lord said to him: Well done! good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful with a little; I will set thee over much: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 And he of the two talents came, and said: My lord, thou gavest me two talents; behold, I have by trading gained two more to them. 23 His lord said to him: Well done! good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful with a little; I will set thee over much: enter thou into the Joy of thy lord. 24 And he also that received the one talent, came and said: My lord, I knew thee, that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sowed, and gathering where thou hast not scattered; 25 and I was afraid, and I went and hid thy talent in the earth. Behold, thou hast what is thine. 26 His lord answered, and said to him: Wicked and slothful servant! Thou knewest me, that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not scattered! 27 Thou oughtest to have cast my money into the exchange; and I might have come and demanded my property with its interest. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that hath ten talents. 29 For, to him that hath, shall be given, and he shall have more; but from him that hath not, even what he hath shall be taken away. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 31 And when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all his holy angels with him, then will he sit upon the throne of his glory. 32 And before him will be gathered all nations; and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd severeth the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. 34 Then will the king say to those on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father; inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and ye gave me food; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me home; 36 I was naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came to me. 37 Then will the righteous say to him: Our Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee home? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came to thee? 40 And the king will answer, and say to them: Verily I Say to you, That inasmuch as ye did so to one of these my little brothers, ye did so to me. 41 Then will he say also to them on his left hand: Go from me, ye accursed, into everlasting fire, which was prepared for the Calumniator and his angels, 42 For I was hungry, and ye gave me no food; and I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; 43 and I was a stranger, and ye took me not home; and I was naked, and ye clothed me not; and I was sick and in prison, and ye did not visit me. 44 Then will they also answer and say: Our Lord, when saw we 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, and say to them: Verily I say to you, That in as much as ye did not so to one of these little ones, ye did not so to me. 46 And these will go into everlasting torment, and the righteous into everlasting life.