1Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

2Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

3For when the foolish virgins took their lamps, they did not take any oil with them.

4But the wise virgins took containers of oil along with their lamps.

5Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all got sleepy and slept.

6But at midnight there was a cry, 'Look, the bridegroom! Go out and meet him.'

7Then all those virgins rose up and trimmed their lamps.

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

9But the wise answered and said, 'Since there will not be enough for us and you, go instead to those who sell and buy some for yourselves.'

10While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

11Afterward the other virgins also came and said, 'Master, master, open for us.'

12But he answered and said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'

13Watch therefore, for you do not know the day or the hour.

14For it is like when a man was about to go into another country. He called his own servants and gave over to them his wealth.

15To one of them he gave five talents, to another he gave two, and to yet another he gave one talent. Each one received an amount according to his own ability, and that man went on his journey.

16The one who received the five talents went at once and invested them and made another five talents.

17Likewise the one who had received two talents made another two.

18But the servant who had received one talent went away, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.

19Now after a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.

20The servant who had received the five talents came and brought another five talents. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five talents more.'

21His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things. I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.'

22The servant who had received two talents came and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more talents.'

23His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things. I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.'

24Then the servant who had received one talent came and said, 'Master, I know that you are a strict man. You reap where you did not sow, and you harvest where you did not scatter.

25I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have here what belongs to you.'

26But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sowed and harvest where I have not scattered.

27Therefore you should have given my money to the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

28Therefore take away the talent from him and give it to the servant who has ten talents.

29For to everyone who possesses, more will be given—even more abundantly. But from anyone who does not possess anything, even what he does have will be taken away.

30Throw the worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.'

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

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

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

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

35For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you took me in;

36I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you cared for me; I was in prison and you came to me.'

37Then the righteous will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you a drink?

38When did we see you a stranger and take you in? Or naked and clothe you?

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

40Then the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, what you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.'

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

42because I was hungry, but you did not give me food; I was thirsty, but you did not give me a drink;

43I was a stranger, but you did not take me in; naked, but you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, but you did not care for me.'

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

45Then he will answer them and say, 'Truly I say to you, what you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”