Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

1“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their 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.

2Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

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

3When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them;

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

4but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps.

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

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

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

6“In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’

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

7“Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.

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

8The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘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“The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, 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“When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, 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.

11Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us! ’

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

12“He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you! ’

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

13“Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either 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“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions 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 he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately

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.

16the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, 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 man with two earned two more.

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

18But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole 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.

19“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.

20The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, 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 said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. 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 man with two talents also approached. He 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 said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. 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“The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered 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 went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, 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.’

26“His master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered,

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 have deposited my money with the bankers, and I would have received my money back with interest when I returned.

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

28“ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 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, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, 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.

30And throw this good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness, where 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.

32All 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.

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 and 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.

35“ ‘For 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 took me in;

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 answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, 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 a stranger and take you in, or without clothes 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?’

40“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did 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 also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are 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 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 take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of 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 too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not 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?’

45“Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do 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.’

46“And they 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.”

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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.