Matthew 25

25 ¹ "At that time the kingdom of our Father will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. ⁵ When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. ⁶ But at midnight a cry rang out: 'Look, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' ⁷ Then all the young women woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' ⁹ But the wise ones answered, 'No, there may not be enough for both us and you. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' ¹⁰ But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. The ones who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. ¹¹ Later the other young women came too, saying, 'Lord, lord, open the door for us!' ¹² But he answered, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' ¹³ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Faithful With Every Entrusted Gift

¹⁴ Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five bags of silver, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶ The one who had received five bags of silver went at once and put them to work and gained five more. ¹⁷ In the same way, the one with two bags of silver gained two more. ¹⁸ But the one who had received one bag of silver went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.

¹⁹ After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The one who had received five bags of silver came and brought five more, saying, 'Master, you entrusted me with five bags of silver. See, I have gained five more.'

²¹ His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come share your master's joy!'

²² The one with two bags of silver also came and said, 'Master, you entrusted me with two bags of silver. See, I have gained two more.'

²³ His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come share your master's joy!'

²⁴ Then the one who had received one bag of silver came and said, 'Master, I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.' ²⁵ So I was afraid, and I went and hid your silver in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

²⁶ His master answered, 'You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷ Then you should have put my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest. ²⁸ So take the bag of silver from him and give it to the one who has ten bags of silver. ²⁹ For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

The Son of Man Judges the Nations

³¹ When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?'

⁴⁰ And the King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' ⁴¹ Then he will say to those on his left, 'Away from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not take me in, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not help you?'

⁴⁵ He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' ⁴⁶ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."