The Wise and Foolish Wedding Party Members

1“At that time, the Empire of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps, but they didn’t take any oil with them. 4The wise ones, however, took oil in jars with their lamps. 5Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they became drowsy and fell asleep. 6But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Look, the bridegroom! Y’all come out to meet him!’ 7Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish one said to the wise, ‘Give us some of y’all’s oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9But the wise ones answered, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and y’all? Instead, y’all go to the oil sellers and buy some for yourself*.’ 10But while they were away to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding wedding, and then the door was shut. 11Later the other virgins came back, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 12But he answered, ‘Truly I tell y’all, I don’t know y’all.’

13“Therefore, y’all must watch carefully for y’all don’t know the day nor the hour.

The Responsibility to Use What Has Been Given

14“For it is like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. 15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to their own ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who received the five talents immediately went and traded with others, and gained another five talents. 17In the same way, the one with the two talents gained another two. 18But the one who received the one talent went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19“Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The one who received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted me with five talents. Look, I have gained five more.’

21“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’

22“The one with two talents came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. Look, 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. Enter into the joy of your master.’

24“The one who had received one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow and gathering where you didn’t scatter. 25I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’

26“But his master answered him, ‘You wicked, lazy servant. So you knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter? 27Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest. 28Therefore, y’all take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For to everyone who has will be given more, and they will have abundance. But whoever doesn’t have, even that will be taken away from them. 30Y’all throw the worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Judgement Comes

31“When the Son of Humanity comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the ethnic groups will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on the left.

34“Then the King will tell those on his right, ‘Come, y’all who are blessed of my Father, inherit the empire prepared for y’all from the foundation of the world; 35For I was hungry, and y’all gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and y’all gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and y’all invited me in. 36I was naked, and y’all clothed me. I was sick, and y’all took care of me. I was in prison, and y’all visited 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? 38When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’

40“The King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell y’all, because y’all did it to one of the least of these siblings and mine, y’all did it to me.’ 41Then he will say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, y’all who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry, and y’all didn’t give me anything to eat. I was thirsty, and y’all didn’t give me anything to drink. 43I was a stranger, and y’all didn’t invite me in. I was naked, and y’all didn’t clothe me. I was sick and in prison, and y’all didn’t visit me.’

44“Then they will also answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t care for you?’

45“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly I tell y’all, whatever y’all didn’t do for one of the least of these, y’all didn’t do for to me.’ 46They will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”