Parable of Ten Virgins

1 “Then athe kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their blamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2 “Five of them were foolish, and five were aprudent.

3 “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

4 but the aprudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.

5 “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.

6 “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

7 “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

8 “The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

9 “But the aprudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were aready went in with him to bthe wedding feast; and cthe door was shut.

11 “Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘aLord, lord, open up for us.’

12 “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 “aBe on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.