International Standard Version | New Living Translation |
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. | 1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. |
2Now five of them were foolish, and five were wise, | 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. |
3because when the foolish ones took their lamps, they didn't take any oil with them. | 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, |
4But the wise ones took flasks of oil with their lamps. | 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. |
5Since the groom was late, all of them became sleepy and lay down. | 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. |
6But at midnight there came a shout: 'The groom is here! 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 the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready. | 7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. |
8"But the foolish ones told the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, because 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.’ |
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.' | 9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some 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. | 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. |
11Later, the other bridesmaids arrived and said, 'Lord, lord, open up for us!' | 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ |
12"But he replied, 'I tell all of you with certainty, I don't know you!' | 12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ |
13So keep on watching, because you don't know the day or 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"Similarly, it is like a man going on a trip, who called his servants and turned his money over to them. | 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 man he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, based on their ability. Then he went on his trip. | 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. |
16"The one who received five talents went out at once and invested them and earned five more. | 16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. |
17In the same way, the one who had two talents earned two more. | 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. |
18But the one who received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and buried 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. |
19"After a long time, the master of those servants returned 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. |
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.' | 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.’ |
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!' | 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! ’ |
22"The one with two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I've earned two more talents. | 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.’ |
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!' | 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!’ |
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. | 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. |
25Since I was afraid, I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here, take what's yours!' | 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ |
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? | 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 should've invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would've received my money back with interest.' | 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ |
28Then the master said, 'Take the talent from him and give it to the man 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. |
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. | 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. |
30Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside! 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 are with him, 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. |
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. | 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. |
33He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left. | 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his 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, | 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. |
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. | 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 took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited 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.’ |
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? | 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? |
38When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or see you naked and clothe you? | 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? |
39When 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?’ |
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.' | 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, 'Get away from me, you who are accursed, into the eternal fire that has been 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. |
42Here's why: I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to 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 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.' | 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.’ |
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?' | 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 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.' | 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.’ |
46These people will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life." | 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | 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. |
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