King James Version of the Bible

Book of Matthew

Chapter 25

25:1

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

25:2

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

25:3

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

25:4

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

25:5

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

25:6

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

25:7

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

25:8

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

25:9

But 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.

25:10

And 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.

25:11

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

25:12

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

25:13

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

25:14

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

25:15

And 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.

25:16

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

25:17

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

25:18

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

25:19

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

25:20

And 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.

25:21

His 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.

25:22

He 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.

25:23

His 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.

25:24

Then 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:

25:25

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

25:26

His 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:

25:27

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

25:28

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

25:29

For 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.

25:30

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

25:31

When 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:

25:32

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

25:33

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

25:34

Then 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:

25:35

For 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:

25:36

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

25:37

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

25:38

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

25:39

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

25:40

And 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.

25:41

Then 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:

25:42

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

25:43

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

25:44

Then 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?

25:45

Then 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.

25:46

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