Chapter 25

  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.  

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  And five of them were foolish, and five wise.  

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  But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them:  

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

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  And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.  

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  And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him.  

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  Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.  

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  And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.  

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  The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  

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  Now whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.  

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  But at last come also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us.  

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  But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not.  

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  Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.  

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  For even as a man going into a far country, called his servants, and delivered to them his goods;  

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  And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey.  

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  And he that had received the five talents, went his way, and traded with the same, and gained other five.  

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  And in like manner he that had received the two, gained other two.  

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  But he that had received the one, going his way digged into the earth, and hid his lord's money.  

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  But after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them.  

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  And he that had received the five talents coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord, thou didst deliver to me five talents, behold I have gained other five over and above.  

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  His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  

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  And he also that had received the two talents came and said: Lord, thou deliveredst two talents to me: behold I have gained other two.  

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  His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  

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  But he that had received the one talent, came and said: Lord, I know that thou art a hard man; thou reapest where thou hast not sown, and gatherest where thou hast not strewed.  

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  And being afraid I went and hid thy talent in the earth: behold here thou hast that which is thine.  

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  And his lord answering, said to him: Wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sow not, and gather where I have not strewed:  

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  Thou oughtest therefore to have committed my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received my own with usury.  

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  Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that hath ten talents.  

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  For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have shall be taken away.  

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  And the unprofitable servant cast ye out into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  

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  And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty.  

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  And all nations shall be gathered together before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats:  

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  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left.  

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  Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  

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  For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in:  

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  Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me.  

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  Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and fed thee; thirsty, and gave thee drink?  

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  And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and covered thee?  

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  Or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee?  

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  And the king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.  

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  Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels.  

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  For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink.  

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  I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you covered me not: sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.  

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  Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee?  

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  Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.  

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  And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting.  

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