Montgomery - Matthew - 25

25:1  "Then will the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten maidens who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.

25:2  "And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

25:3  "The foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them;

25:4  "but the wise took oil in their flasks with their lamps.

25:5  "Now because the bridegroom tarried, they all fell to nodding and went on sleeping.

25:6  "But at midnight there arose a cry, "‘Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him!’

25:7  "Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps;

25:8  "and the foolish said to the wise, "‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

25:9  "‘Not so, answered the wise, ‘for there may not be enough for you and for us. Go to the shops, rather, and buy some for yourselves.’

25:10  "And while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding-feast. And the door was shut.

25:11  "Afterwards the other maidens came and cried, "‘Lord, Lord, open unto us!’

25:12  "‘In solemn truth I tell you,’ he replied, ‘I know you not.’

25:13  "Be watchful then, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

25:14  "For it is like a man going into another country, who summoned his slaves, and committed his property to their care.

25:15  "To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another, one - to each according to his individual ability - and then set out on his travels.

25:16  "At once the man who had received the five talents went out and traded with them, and made five talents more.

25:17  "In the same way the one who got two talents made another two.

25:18  "But he who had received the one talent went off, and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

25:19  "After a long time the master of those slaves came, and demanded a reckoning with them.

25:20  "The man who had received the five talents came, bringing five more, and said. "‘Master, five talents you entrusted to me; see, I have gained five more.’

25:21  "‘Well done, good and faithful slave,’ replied his master; ‘You have been faithful over many things. Enter into your master’s joy.’

25:22  "The second, who had received the two talents, came up and said. "‘Master, it was two talents that you entrusted to me; see, I have gained two more.’

25:23  "‘Well done, good and faithful slave,’ his master replied, ‘You have been faithful over many things; enter into your master’s joy.’

25:24  "Then the man who had received the one talent came up and said. "‘Master, I knew you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown, and gathering where you had not scattered;

25:25  "so I was afraid; I went away and buried your talent in the earth. There, you have what belongs to you!’

25:26  "‘You wicked and lazy slave,’ said his master. ‘You say you knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not scattered?

25:27  "‘Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my property with interest.

25:28  "‘So take away the talent from him, and give it to the man who has ten talents.

25:29  "‘(For to every one who has, it shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.)

25:30  "‘But cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.’

25:31  "But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then will he take his seat on the throne of his glory;

25:32  "and all the nations will be gathered in his presence. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats;

25:33  "and he will place the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left.

25:34  "Then he, the King will say to those on his right hand. "‘Come, my Father’s blessed ones, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

25:35  "‘For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in;

25:36  "‘I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to see me.’

25:37  "Then shall the righteous answer him, saying. ‘Master, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink?

25:38  "‘When did we see you a stranger and take you in; or naked and clothe you?

25:39  "‘When did we see you sick or in prison, and come to see you?’

25:40  "‘In solemn truth I tell you,’ the King will answer them, ‘that inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, my brothers, you have done it unto me.’

25:41  "Then he will say to those also at his left hand. ‘Depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;

25:42  "for I was hungry, and you gave me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;

25:43  "I was a stranger, and you took me not in; naked, and you clothed me not; sick, or in prison, and you visited me not.’

25:44  "Then will they also answer, ‘Master, when did we ever see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?’

25:45  "But he will reply, ‘In solemn truth I tell you that inasmuch as you did not do it unto one of these least, you did not do it unto me.’

25:46  "And these will go away into eternal punishment; but the righteous into eternal life."