章 |
25:1 |
'Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
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25:2 |
Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
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25:3 |
For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;
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25:4 |
but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
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25:5 |
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
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25:6 |
But at midnight there was a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
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25:7 |
Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps.
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25:8 |
And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
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25:9 |
But the wise replied, Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you;go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'
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25:10 |
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast;and the door was shut.
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25:11 |
Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us.'
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25:12 |
But he replied, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
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25:13 |
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
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25:14 |
'For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property;
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25:15 |
to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
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25:16 |
He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them;and he made five talents more.
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25:17 |
So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more.
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25:18 |
But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
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25:19 |
Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
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25:20 |
And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, Master, you delivered to me five talents;here I have made five talents more.'
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25:21 |
His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant;you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much;enter into the joy of your master.'
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25:22 |
And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you delivered to me two talents;here I have made two talents more.'
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25:23 |
His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant;you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much;enter into the joy of your master.'
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25:24 |
He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow;
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25:25 |
so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
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25:26 |
But his master answered him, You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed?
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25:27 |
Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
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25:28 |
So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
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25:29 |
For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance;but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
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25:30 |
And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness;there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
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25:31 |
'When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
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25:32 |
Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
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25:33 |
and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
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25:34 |
Then the King will say to those at his right hand, Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
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25:35 |
for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
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25:36 |
I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
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25:37 |
Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?
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25:38 |
And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?
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25:39 |
And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'
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25:40 |
And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'
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25:41 |
Then he will say to those at his left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
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25:42 |
for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
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25:43 |
I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
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25:44 |
Then they also will answer, Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?'
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25:45 |
Then he will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.'
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25:46 |
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.'
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