Matthew 25:1-30

21st Century King James Version

25 “Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

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

³ They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,

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

⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made: ‘Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.’

⁷ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, ‘Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.’

⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.’

¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.

¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us!’

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

¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.

¹⁴ “For the Kingdom of Heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods.

¹⁵ And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his several ability, and straightway tookhis journey.

¹⁶ Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them another five talents.

¹⁷ And likewise he that had received two, he also gained another two.

¹⁸ But he that had received one went and dug in the earth and hid his lord’s money.

¹⁹ After a long time the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them.

²⁰ And so he that had received five talents came and brought the other five talents, saying, ‘Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents. Behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.’

²¹ His lord said unto him, ‘Well done, thou 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.’

²² “He also that had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.’

²³ His lord said unto him, ‘Well 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.’

²⁴ “Then he that had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew thee, that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed.

²⁵ And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth. Lo, there thou hast what is thine.’

²⁶ 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 have not strewed.

²⁷ Thou ought therefore to have placed my money with the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with interest.

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

²⁹ For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath.

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