Matthew, 25

1. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

1. This story throws light on what will happen in the kingdom of heaven. Ten bridesmaids went out with their lamps to meet the bridegroom.

2. And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish.

2. Five of them were careless while the others were sensible.

3. They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

3. The careless bridesmaids took their lamps as they were and did not bring extra oil.

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

4. But those who were sensible, brought with their lamps flasks of oil.

5. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

5. As the bridegroom delayed, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.

6. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

6. But at midnight, a cry rang out: 'The bridegroom is here, come out and meet him!'

7. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

7. All the maidens woke up at once and trimmed their lamps.

8. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

8. Then the careless ones said to the sensible ones: 'Give us some oil, for our lamps are going out.'

9. But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

9. The sensible ones answered: 'There may not be enough for both you and us. You had better go to those who sell and buy for yourselves.'

10. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

10. They were out buying oil when the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him to the wedding feast, and the doors were shut.

11. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

11. Later the rest of the bridesmaids arrived and called out: 'Lord, Lord, open to us.'

12. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

12. But he answered: 'Truly, I do not know you.'

13. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

13. So, stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

14. For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

14. Imagine someone who, before going abroad, summoned his servants to entrust his property to them.

15. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

15. He gave five talents of silver to one, then two to another, and one to a third, each one according to his ability; and he went away.

16. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made [them] other five talents.

16. He who received five talents went at once to do business with the money and gained another five.

17. And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained other two.

17. The one who received two did the same and gained another two.

18. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

18. But the one with one talent dug a hole and hid his master's money.

19. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

19. After a long time, the master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning.

20. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

20. The one who received five talents came with another five talents, saying: 'Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, but see I have gained five more with them.'

21. His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

21. The master answered: 'Very well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.'

22. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

22. Then the one who had two talents came and said: 'Lord, you entrusted me with two talents; I have two more which I gained with them.'

23. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

23. The master said: 'Well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in little things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.'

24. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

24. Finally, the one who had received a talent came and said: 'Master, I know that you are an exacting man. You reap what you have not sown and gather what you have not invested.

25. And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine.

25. I was afraid, so I hid your money in the ground. Here, take what is yours.'

26. His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

26. But his master replied: 'Wicked and worthless servant, you know that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not invested.

27. Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

27. Then you should have deposited my money in the bank, and you would have given it back to me with interest on my return.

28. Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten talents.

28. Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten.

29. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

29. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them.

30. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

30. As for that useless servant, throw him out into the dark where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

31. "When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his Glory.

32. And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:

32. All the nations will be brought before him, and as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,

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

33. so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

34. The King will say to those on his right: 'Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.

35. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

35. For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink.

36. Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

36. I was a stranger and you welcomed me into your house. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to see me.'

37. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?

37. Then the good people will ask him: 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food; thirsty and give you drink,

38. When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?

38. or a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

39. Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

39. When did we see you sick or in prison and go to see you?'

40. And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.

40. The King will answer, 'Truly, I say to you: whenever you did this to these little ones who are my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.'

41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

41. Then he will say to those on his left: 'Go, cursed people, out of my sight into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels!

42. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

42. For I was hungry and you did not give me anything to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink;

43. I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

43. I was a stranger and you did not welcome me into your house; I was naked and you did not clothe me; I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

44. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

44. They, too, will ask: 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45. Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.

45. The King will answer them: 'Truly, I say to you: whatever you did not do for one of these little ones, you did not do for me.'

46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

46. And these will go into eternal punishment, but the just to eternal life."