Life of Jesus | IndexThe Parables of the Ten Virgins and the Talents
Mat 25:1-30
Matt 25:1-30
"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their
lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
"Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
"Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
"but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
"But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
"And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to
meet him!'
"Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
"And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps
are going out.'
"But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us
and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready
went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
"Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'
"But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son
of Man is coming.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who
called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
"And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each
according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
"Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made
another five talents.
"And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
"But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's
money.
"After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with
them.
"So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents,
saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more
talents besides them.'
"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were
faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy
of your lord.'
"He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to
me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'
"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been
faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into
the joy of your lord.'
"Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to
be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not
scattered seed.
'And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you
have what is yours.'
"But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew
that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I
would have received back my own with interest.
'Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but
from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
'And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.'