¶ Then¹ shall the kingdom² of heaven be likened unto ten³ virgins, which⁴ took their lamps, and went⁵ forth to meet the bridegroom⁶.

⁷And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

They that were foolish⁸ took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil⁹ in their vessels with their lamps.

While the¹⁰ bridegroom tarried, they¹¹ all slumbered and slept.

And at¹² midnight there was a cry¹³ made, Behold¹⁴, the bridegroom cometh; go¹⁵ ye out to meet him.

¹⁶Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give¹⁷ us of your oil; for¹⁸ our lamps are gone out¹⁹.

But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest²⁰ there be not enough for us and you: but²¹ go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

¶ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom²² came; and they²³ that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the²⁴ door was shut.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying²⁵, Lord, Lord, open to us.

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know²⁶ you not.

²⁷Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

¶ For the kingdom of heaven is as²⁸ a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered²⁹ unto them his goods.

And unto one he gave five talents³⁰, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Then he that had received the five talents went³¹ and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

And likewise he that had received two, he also³² gained other two.

But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid³³ his lord's money.

After a long³⁴ time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth³⁵ with them.

¶ And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold³⁶, I have gained beside them five talents more.

His lord said unto him, Well done³⁷, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make³⁸ thee ruler over many things: enter thou³⁹ into the joy of thy lord.

He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained⁴⁰ two other talents beside them.

His lord said unto him, Well⁴¹ done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Then he which⁴² had received the one talent came and said, Lord⁴³, I knew⁴⁴ thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

⁴⁵And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked⁴⁶ and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Thou oughtest⁴⁷ therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with⁴⁸ usury.

⁴⁹Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

For unto⁵⁰ every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken⁵¹ away even that which he hath.

¶ And cast⁵² ye the unprofitable servant into outer⁵³ darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

¶ When the Son⁵⁴ of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then⁵⁵ shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

And before⁵⁶ him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate⁵⁷ them one from another, as⁵⁸ a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

And he shall set the sheep⁵⁹ on his⁶⁰ right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King⁶¹ say unto them on his right hand, Come⁶², ye blessed of my Father, inherit⁶³ the kingdom prepared⁶⁴ for you from⁶⁵ the foundation of the world:

For I was an⁶⁶ hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty⁶⁷, and ye gave me drink: I was a⁶⁸ stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked⁶⁹, and ye clothed me: I was sick⁷⁰, and ye visited me: I was in⁷¹ prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when⁷² saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

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

¶ And the King⁷³ shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch⁷⁴ as ye have done it unto one of the least⁷⁵ of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me⁷⁶.

Then shall he say also unto them⁷⁷ on the left hand, Depart⁷⁸ from me, ye cursed⁷⁹, into everlasting⁸⁰ fire, prepared⁸¹ for the devil and his angels:

⁸²For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

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

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when⁸³ saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch⁸⁴ as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

And these shall go away into everlasting⁸⁵ punishment: but the righteous⁸⁶ into life eternal.