Matthew 25:1–15

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,

⁴but 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.

Parable of the Talents

¹⁴“^aFor it is just like a man ^babout to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.

¹⁵“To one he gave five ^1atalents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he ^bwent on his journey.