| Chapter 25 |
1 |
"Then will the Kingdom of the Heavens be found to be like ten bridesmaids who took their torches and went out to meet the bridegroom. |
2 |
Five of them were foolish and five were wise. |
3 |
For the foolish, when they took their torches, did not provide themselves with oil; |
4 |
but the wise, besides their torches, took oil in their flasks. |
5 |
The bridegroom was a long time in coming, so that meanwhile they all became drowsy and fell asleep. |
6 |
But at midnight there is a loud cry, "`The bridegroom! Go out and meet him!' |
7 |
"Then all those bridesmaids roused themselves and trimmed their torches. |
8 |
"`Give us some of your oil,' said the foolish ones to the wise, `for our torches are going out.' |
9 |
"`But perhaps,' replied the wise, `there will not be enough for all of us. Go to the shops rather, and buy some for yourselves.' |
10 |
"So they went to buy. But meanwhile the bridegroom came; those bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. |
11 |
"Afterwards the other bridesmaids came and cried, "`Sir, Sir, open the door to us.' |
12 |
"`In solemn truth I tell you,' he replied, `I do not know you.' |
13 |
"Keep awake therefore; for you know neither the day nor the hour. |
14 |
"Why, it is like a man who, when going on his travels, called his bondservants and entrusted his property to their care. |
15 |
To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one--to each according to his individual capacity; and then started from home. |
16 |
Without delay the one who had received the five talents went and employed them in business, and gained five more. |
17 |
In the same way he who had the two gained two more. |
18 |
But the man who had received the one went and dug a hole and buried his master's money. |
19 |
"After a long lapse of time the master of those servants returned, and had a reckoning with them. |
20 |
The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, and said, "`Sir, it was five talents that you entrusted to me: see, I have gained five more.' |
21 |
"`You have done well, good and trustworthy servant,' replied his master; `you have been trustworthy in the management of a little, I will put you in charge of much: share your master's joy.' |
22 |
"The second, who had received the two talents, came and said, "`Sir, it was two talents you entrusted to me: see, I have gained two more.' |
23 |
"`Good and trustworthy servant, you have done well,' his master replied; `you have been trustworthy in the management of a little, I will put you in charge of much: share your master's joy.' |
24 |
"But, next, the man who had the one talent in his keeping came and said, "`Sir, I knew you to be a severe man, reaping where you had not sown and garnering what you had not winnowed. |
25 |
So being afraid I went and buried your talent in the ground: there you have what belongs to you.' |
26 |
"`You wicked and slothful servant,' replied his master, `did you know that I reap where I have not sown, and garner what I have not winnowed? |
27 |
Your duty then was to deposit my money in some bank, and so when I came I should have got back my property with interest. |
28 |
So take away the talent from him, and give it to the man who has the ten.' |
29 |
(For to every one who has, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has nothing, even what he has shall be taken away.) |
30 |
`But as for this worthless servant, put him out into the darkness outside: *there* will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.' |
31 |
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then will He sit upon His glorious throne, |
32 |
and all the nations will be gathered into His presence. And He will separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; |
33 |
and will make the sheep stand at His right hand, and the goats at His left. |
34 |
"Then the King will say to those at His right, "`Come, my Father's blessed ones, receive your inheritance of the Kingdom which has been divinely intended for you ever since the creation of the world. |
35 |
For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was homeless, you gave me a welcome; |
36 |
when I was ill-clad, you clothed me; when I was sick, you visited me; when I was in prison, you came to see me.' |
37 |
"`When, Lord,' the righteous will reply, `did we see Thee hungry, and feed Thee; or thirsty, and give Thee drink? |
38 |
When did we see Thee homeless, and give Thee a welcome? or ill-clad, and clothe Thee? |
39 |
When did we see Thee sick or in prison, and come to see Thee?' |
40 |
"But the King will answer them, "`In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you rendered such services to one of the humblest of these my brethren, you rendered them to myself.' |
41 |
"Then will He say to those at His left, "`Begone from me, with the curse resting upon you, into the Fire of the Ages, which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels. |
42 |
For when I was hungry, you gave me nothing to eat; when thirsty, you gave me nothing to drink; |
43 |
when homeless, you gave me no welcome; ill-clad, you clothed me not; sick or in prison, you visited me not.' |
44 |
"Then will they also answer, "`Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty or homeless or ill-clad or sick or in prison, and not come to serve Thee?' |
45 |
"But he will reply, "`In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you withheld such services from one of the humblest of these, you withheld them from me.' |
46 |
"And these shall go away into the Punishment of the Ages, but the righteous into the Life of the Ages." |