English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps,

4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.

5As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’

7Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.

8And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

9But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’

9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

10And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.

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

11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

12But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

13Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. Parable of the Three Servants

14“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.

15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

16He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.

17So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.

18But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

19Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.

20And 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.’

20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’

21His 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.’

21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together! ’

22And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’

22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’

23His 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.’

23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

24He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate.

25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’

25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

26But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate,

27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

28So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.

29For 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.

29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

30And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ The Final Judgment

31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.

32Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

34Then 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.

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 creation of the world.

35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.

36I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?

39And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40And 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.’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.

42For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink.

43I 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.’

43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

44Then 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?’

44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

45Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.