AICNT MAT chapter 25

25 “Then the kingdom of the heavens 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 For the foolish ones, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them. 4 But the wise ones took oil in their vessels[fn] with their lamps. 5 And while the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom [[is coming]]![fn] Go out to meet[fn] [him].’[fn] 7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there not be enough for us and you; go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut. 11 Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Therefore, be alert, for you do not know the day nor the hour [[in which the Son of Man comes]].[fn]

14 “For just as a man going on a journey called his own servants and entrusted to them his possessions, 15 and to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability, and he went away. Immediately, 16 the one who had received the five talents went and worked with them {and gained another five};[fn] 17 likewise, the one with two gained another two. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went away, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing another five talents [[besides them]],[fn] saying, ‘Master, you entrusted me with five talents; see, I have gained another five talents.’ 21 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.’

22 “And the one {with}[fn] the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained another two talents [[besides them]].’[fn] 23 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.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground; see, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I would have received what was mine with interest. 28 Therefore, take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents; 29 for to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the [[holy]][fn] angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory;[fn] 32 and all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the 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 food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you {sick}[fn] or in prison and come to you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart 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 invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes 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.”

25:4, vessels: Or flasks

25:6, is coming: Later manuscripts add.

25:6, meet: That is with the intention of escorting him to his destination.

25:6, him: Absent from some manuscripts.

25:13, in which the Son of Man comes: Later manuscripts add.

25:16, and gained another five: Later manuscripts read “and he made five talents more.”

25:20, besides them: Later manuscripts add.

25:22, with: Later manuscripts read “who had received.”

25:22, besides them: Later manuscripts add.

25:31, holy: Later manuscripts add.

25:31, throne of his glory: Or his glorious throne.

25:39, sick: Later manuscripts read “weak.”

AICNT MAT Chapter 25