International Standard Version

King James Bible

1"At that time, the kingdom from heaven will be comparable to ten bridesmaids who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the groom.

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

2Now five of them were foolish, and five were wise,

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

3because when the foolish ones took their lamps, they didn't take any oil with them.

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

4But the wise ones took flasks of oil with their lamps.

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

5Since the groom was late, all of them became sleepy and lay down.

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

6But at midnight there came a shout: 'The groom is here! Come out to meet him!'

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

7Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready.

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

8"But the foolish ones told the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out!'

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

9"But the wise ones replied, 'No! There will never be enough for us and for you. You'd better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'

9But 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.

10"While they were away buying it, the groom arrived. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was closed.

10And 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.

11Later, the other bridesmaids arrived and said, 'Lord, lord, open up for us!'

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

12"But he replied, 'I tell all of you with certainty, I don't know you!'

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

13So keep on watching, because you don't know the day or the hour."

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

14"Similarly, it is like a man going on a trip, who called his servants and turned his money over to them.

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

15To one man he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, based on their ability. Then he went on his trip.

15And 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.

16"The one who received five talents went out at once and invested them and earned five more.

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

17In the same way, the one who had two talents earned two more.

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

18But the one who received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and buried his master's money.

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

19"After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

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

20The one who had received five talents came up and brought five more talents. 'Master,' he said, 'you gave me five talents. See, I've earned five more talents.'

20And 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.

21"His master told him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you've been trustworthy with a small amount, I'll put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's joy!'

21His 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.

22"The one with two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I've earned two more talents.

22He 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.

23"His master told him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you've been trustworthy with a small amount, I'll put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's joy!'

23His 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.

24"Then the one who had received one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you haven't planted and gathering where you haven't scattered any seed.

24Then 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:

25Since I was afraid, I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here, take what's yours!'

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

26"His master answered him, 'You evil and lazy servant! So you knew that I harvested where I haven't planted and gathered where I haven't scattered any seed?

26His 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:

27Then you should've invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would've received my money back with interest.'

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

28Then the master said, 'Take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents,

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

29because to everyone who has something, more will be given, and he'll have more than enough. But from the person who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him.

29For 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.

30Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside! In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

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

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

31When 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:

32All the nations will be assembled in front of him, and he will cull them out, one from another, like a shepherd separates sheep from goats.

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

33He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left.

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

34"Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who have been blessed by my Father! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,

34Then 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:

35because I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.

35For 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:

36I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'

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

37"Then the righteous will say to him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you something to eat, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

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

38When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or see you naked and clothe you?

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

39When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?'

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

40The king will answer them, 'I tell all of you with certainty, since you did it for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.'

40And 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.

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Get away from me, you who are accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!

41Then 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:

42Here's why: I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink.

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

43I was a stranger, and you didn't welcome me. I was naked, and you didn't clothe me. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'

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

44"Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn't help you?'

44Then 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?

45Then he will say to them, 'I tell all of you with certainty, since you didn't do it for one of the least important of these, you didn't do it for me.'

45Then 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.

46These people will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."

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

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.