Matthew 25

1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

1At that time, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten young bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.

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

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

3For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them:

3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them.

4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

4The wise ones, however, took jars of oil along with their lamps.

5Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

5When the groom was late in arriving, they all got drowsy and fell asleep.

6But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.

6But at midnight, a shout rang out: 'Look, the groom is here! Come out to meet him!'

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

7Then all those bridesmaids woke up and prepared their lamps.

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

8The foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.'

9But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

9But the wise ones answered, 'No, there might not be enough for both us and you. Go instead to the shopkeepers and buy some for yourselves.'

10And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut.

10But while they were away buying oil, the groom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.

11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

11Later, the other bridesmaids came and said, 'Sir, Sir, open the door for us!'

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

12But he answered, 'I tell you the truth, I do not know who you are.'

13Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.

13So stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour when this will happen.

14Forit isaswhena man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

14It is also like a man who was going on a trip to another country. He called his servants together and put them in charge of his property.

15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.

15He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags to another, and one bag to a third, giving to each according to their ability. Then he left on his journey.

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

16The servant who had received five bags of silver went to work with them right away and earned five more.

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

17In the same way, the one with two bags earned two more.

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

18But the servant who received only one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.

19Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them.

19After a long time, the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them.

20And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents.

20The servant who had received five bags of silver came and brought the five additional bags. He said, 'Master, you gave me five bags; look, I have earned five more.'

21His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

21His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, so I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!'

22And he also that received the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents.

22The servant with two bags of silver also came and said, 'Master, you gave me two bags; look, I have earned two more.'

23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

23His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, so I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!'

24And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter;

24Then the servant who had received one bag of silver came and said, 'Master, I knew you were a hard man. You harvest where you didn't plant, and you gather crops where you didn't scatter seed.

25and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own.

25So I was afraid, and I went and hid your silver in the ground. Look, here is the money that belongs to you.'

26But 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 did not scatter;

26But his master answered him, 'You wicked and lazy servant! You knew that I harvest where I didn't plant and gather where I didn't scatter seed?

27thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest.

27Then you should have at least put my money in the bank. Then when I returned, I would have received my money back with interest.

28Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents.

28Take the bag of silver from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.

29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.

29For everyone who uses what they have will be given more, and they will have plenty. But from those who do nothing, even the little they have will be taken away.

30And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

30Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where people will weep and grind their teeth in pain.'

31But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:

31When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all the angels, he will sit on his glorious throne.

32and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats;

32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

33He will put the sheep on his right side and the goats on his left side.

34Then 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:

34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the world was created.

35for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in;

35For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me;

36naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

36I was naked and you gave me clothes; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.'

37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink?

37Then the godly people will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

38When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or see you naked and clothe you?

39And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

39When did we see you sick or in prison and come to visit you?'

40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.

40And the King will answer them, 'I tell you the truth, whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me.'

41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:

41Then he will say to those on his left, 'Get away from me, you who are cursed! Go into the fire that never goes out, which was prepared for the devil and his angels.

42for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink;

42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink;

43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me; I was naked and you did not give me clothes; I was sick and in prison and you did not take care of me.'

44Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

44Then they will also answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and not help you?'

45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me.

45He will tell them, 'I tell you the truth, since you refused to help even the least important of these people, you refused to help me.'

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

46Then these people will go away into eternal punishment, but the godly people will go into eternal life.