Matthew 25:1–13

The Parable of Ten Girls

25^*“At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there were ten young women who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ²Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise. ³The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them, ⁴while the wise ones took containers full of oil for their lamps. ⁵The bridegroom was late in coming, so the women began to nod and fall asleep.

⁶“It was already midnight when the cry rang out, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him!’ ⁷The ten women woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ⁹‘No, indeed,’ the wise ones answered, ‘there is not enough for you and for us. Go to the shop and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰So the foolish women went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. The five who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed.

^11*“Later the other women arrived. ‘Sir, sir! Let us in!’ they cried out. ^12*‘Certainly not! I don’t know you,’ the bridegroom answered.”

¹³And Jesus concluded, “Be on your guard, then, because you do not know the day or the hour.