THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE

32 “Learn this lessonj from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, recognizeD that heE is near—at the door.k 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.l 35 Heaven and earth will pass away,m but my words will never pass away.n

NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR HOUR

36 “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the SonF—except the Father alone.o 37 As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 38 For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark.p 39 They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left.q 42 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what dayG your Lord is coming.r 43 But know this: If the homeowner had known what timeH the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into.s 44 This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.t

FAITHFUL SERVICE TO CHRIST

45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant,u whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time?v 46 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.w 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and starts to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with drunkards,x 50 that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virginsI who took their lamps* and went out to meet the groom.y 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.z 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; 4 but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’

7 “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’

9 “The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.aa 11 Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’

12 “He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’

13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.A

THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS

14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey.a He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents,B to another two talents, and to another one talent, depending on each one’s ability. Then he went on a journey.b Immediately 16 the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. 17 In the same way the man with two earned two more. 18 But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’

21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’c

22 “The man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I’ve earned two more talents.’

23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.’

24 “The man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed.d 25 So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

26 “His master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy servant!e If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered,