Matthew 25:14–46

The Parable of the Talents

¹⁴“For it is just like a man going on a journey. ^hHe called his own ^•slaves and turned over his possessions to them. ¹⁵To one he gave five talents; ⁱto another, two; and to another, one—to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey. ^jImmediately ¹⁶the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. ¹⁷In the same way the man with two earned two more. ¹⁸But 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 slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I’ve earned five more talents.’

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

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

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

²⁴“Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a difficult man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. ^l25So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’

²⁶“But his master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy slave! ^mIf you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, ²⁷then ⁿyou should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money ^oback with interest.

²⁸“ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10 talents. ²⁹For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ^p30And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. ^qIn that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Sheep and the Goats

³¹“When the ^•Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels ^rswith Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ^t32All the nations ^uvwill be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ^w33He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left. ³⁴Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom ^xprepared for you from the foundation of the world. ^y

³⁵For I was hungry

and you gave Me something to eat;

I was thirsty

and you gave Me something to drink;

I was a stranger and you took Me in;

³⁶I was naked and you clothed Me;

I was sick and you took care of Me;

I was in prison and you visited Me.’ ^z

³⁷“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ³⁸When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? ³⁹When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’

⁴⁰“And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these ^•brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ ^a41Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels! ^b

⁴²For I was hungry

and you gave Me nothing to eat;

I was thirsty

and you gave Me nothing to drink;

⁴³I was a stranger

and you didn’t take Me in;

I was naked

and you didn’t clothe Me,

sick and in prison

and you didn’t take care of Me.’

⁴⁴“Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’

⁴⁵“Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’ ^c

⁴⁶“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” ^d