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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for 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.

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.

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

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

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

14For it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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:

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

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;

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

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

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.

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

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:

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:

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

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:

35for 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;

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

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

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

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

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.

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:

42for I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no 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.

44Then shall they also answer, 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?

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.

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