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The New Testament: The Gospel According to St. Matthew: Chapter 25
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{1}
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
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{2}
And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
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{3}
For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them:
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{4}
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
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{5}
Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
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{6}
But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.
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{7}
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
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{8}
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.
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{9}
But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
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{10}
And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut.
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{11}
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
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{12}
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
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{13}
Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.
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{14}
For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
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{15}
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.
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{16}
Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents.
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{17}
In like manner he also that [received] the two gained other two.
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{18}
But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
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{19}
Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them.
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{20}
And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents.
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{21}
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
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{22}
And he also that [received] the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents.
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{23}
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
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{24}
And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter;
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{25}
and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own.
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{26}
But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter;
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{27}
thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest.
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{28}
Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents.
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{29}
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.
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{30}
And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
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{31}
But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:
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{32}
and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats;
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{33}
and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
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{34}
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
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{35}
for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in;
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{36}
naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
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{37}
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink?
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{38}
And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
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{39}
And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
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{40}
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, [even] these least, ye did it unto me.
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{41}
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:
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{42}
for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink;
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{43}
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
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{44}
Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
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{45}
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me.
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{46}
And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.
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