The Parable of the Ten Virgins
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"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 1ten virgins who took their lampsa and went to meet 2the bridegroom.b
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Five of them were foolish, and five were 3wise.
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For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
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but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
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As the bridegroom 4was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
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But 5at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
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Then all those virgins rose and 6trimmed their lamps.
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And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
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But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'
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And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and 7those who were ready went in with him to 8the marriage feast, and 9the door was shut.
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Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 10'Lord, lord, open to us.'
The Parable of the Talents
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15"For 16it will be like a man 17going on a journey, who called his servantsc and entrusted to them his property.
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To one he gave five 18talents,d to another two, to another one, 19to each according to his ability. Then he 20went away.
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He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
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So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
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But he who had received the one talent went and 21dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
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And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
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His master said to him, 'Well done, good and 24faithful servant.e25You have been faithful over a little; 26I will set you over much. Enter into 27the joy of your master.'
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And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'
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His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
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He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be 28a hard man, reaping 29where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
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so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here 30you have what is yours.'
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But his master answered him, 'You 31wicked and 32slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
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Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
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So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
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33For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
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And 34cast 35the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place 36there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
The Final Judgment
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37"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, 38then he will sit on his glorious throne.
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Before him 39will be gathered 40all the nations, and 41he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates 42the sheep from the goats.
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And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
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Then 43the King will say to 44those on his right, 'Come, you 45who are blessed by my Father, 46inherit 47the kingdom 48prepared for you 49from the foundation of the world.
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For 50I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you 51gave me drink, 52I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
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53I was naked and you clothed me, 54I was sick and you 55visited me, 56I was in prison and you came to me.'
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Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
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And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
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And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
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And 57the King will answer them, 58'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these 59my brothers,f you did it to me.'
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"Then he will say to those on his left, 60'Depart from me, you 61cursed, into 62the eternal fire prepared for 63the devil and his angels.
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For 64I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
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I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
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Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'
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Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, 65you did not do it to me.'
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)