| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. | 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. |
| 2Five of the virgins were foolish, and five were wise. | 2Now five of them were foolish, and five were wise, |
| 3When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them. | 3because when the foolish ones took their lamps, they didn't take any oil with them. |
| 4But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. | 4But the wise ones took flasks of oil with their lamps. |
| 5When the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. | 5Since the groom was late, all of them became sleepy and lay down. |
| 6But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.' | 6But at midnight there came a shout: 'The groom is here! Come out to meet him!' |
| 7Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. | 7Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready. |
| 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' | 8"But the foolish ones told the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out!' |
| 9No,' they replied. 'There won't be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' | 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.' |
| 10But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then the door was shut. | 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. |
| 11Later, the other virgins came too, saying, 'Lord, lord! Let us in!' | 11Later, the other bridesmaids arrived and said, 'Lord, lord, open up for us!' |
| 12But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I do not know you!' | 12"But he replied, 'I tell all of you with certainty, I don't know you!' |
| 13Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. | 13So keep on watching, because you don't know the day or the hour." |
| 14"For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. | 14"Similarly, it is like a man going on a trip, who called his servants and turned his money over to them. |
| 15To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. | 15To one man he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, based on their ability. Then he went on his trip. |
| 16The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more. | 16"The one who received five talents went out at once and invested them and earned five more. |
| 17In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. | 17In the same way, the one who had two talents earned two more. |
| 18But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money in it. | 18But the one who received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and buried his master's money. |
| 19After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. | 19"After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. |
| 20The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, 'Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' | 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.' |
| 21His master answered, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.' | 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!' |
| 22The one with the two talents also came and said, 'Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.' | 22"The one with two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I've earned two more talents. |
| 23His master answered, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.' | 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!' |
| 24Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, 'Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, | 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. |
| 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' | 25Since I was afraid, I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here, take what's yours!' |
| 26But his master answered, 'Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn't sow and gather where I didn't scatter? | 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? |
| 27Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest! | 27Then you should've invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would've received my money back with interest.' |
| 28Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. | 28Then the master said, 'Take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents, |
| 29For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. | 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. |
| 30And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' | 30Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside! In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" |
| 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"When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. |
| 32All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. | 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. |
| 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. | 33He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on 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 have been blessed by my Father! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, |
| 35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, | 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. |
| 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' | 36I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' |
| 37Then 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 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? |
| 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? | 38When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or see you naked and clothe you? |
| 39When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' | 39When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' |
| 40And the king will answer them, 'I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.' | 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.' |
| 41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! | 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! |
| 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. | 42Here's why: I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink. |
| 43I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' | 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.' |
| 44Then they too will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?' | 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?' |
| 45Then he will answer them, 'I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.' | 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.' |
| 46And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." | 46These people will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life." |
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