1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
3When the foolish ones took their lamps, they didn't take any oil with them.
4But the wise ones took oil in containers along with their lamps.
5While the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6But at midnight, a shout rang out, ‘Look! The groom is coming! Come out to meet him!’
7Then all those young women 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.’
9But the wise ones replied, ‘There might not be enough for both us and you. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10While they were gone to buy oil, the groom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
11Later, the other young women also came, saying, ‘Sir, sir, open the door for us.’
12But he answered, ‘I tell you the truth, I don't know you.’
13So stay alert, because you don't know the day or the hour when the Son of Man will come.
14“It's like a man who was going to another country. He called his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
15To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two, and to another one, each according to his own ability. Then he left on his journey.
16Immediately, the one who received five bags of gold went and put his money to work and gained five more.
17In the same way, the one who received two bags of gold gained two more.
18But the one who received one bag of gold went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
19“After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20The one who had received five bags of gold came with five more, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22“The one with two bags of gold also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two bags of gold. See, I have gained two more.’
23“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24“Then the one who had received one bag of gold came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25I was afraid, so I went and hid your money in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
26“But his master answered him, ‘You evil and lazy servant! You knew that I harvest crops where I haven’t planted, and gather where I haven’t scattered seed.
27So you should have put my money in the bank, and when I returned, I would have received my own money back with interest.
28Therefore, take the money away from him and give it to the one who has ten units of money.
29Because to everyone who has, more will be given, and they will have plenty. But from the one who does not have, even what they have will be taken away.
30Throw that useless servant out into the darkness, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’
31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, with all the holy angels, he will sit on his glorious throne.
32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33He will put the sheep on his right side and 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 since the creation of the world.
35Because I was hungry and you gave me food. 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 clothes. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’
37“Then the righteous people will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?
38When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
39When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’
40“The King will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41Then he will also say to those on his left, ‘Go away from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42Because I was hungry and you did not give me food. I was thirsty and you gave me no drink.
43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me. I was naked and you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
44“Then they will also answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not help you?’
45Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, since you didn’t do it for one of the least of these, you didn’t do it for me.’
46These people will go away to eternal punishment, but the good people will go to eternal life.”