Chapter 25

  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  

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  And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish.  

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  They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  

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  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  

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  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  

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  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  

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  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  

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  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  

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  But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  

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  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  

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  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  

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  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.  

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  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.  

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  For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.  

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  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.  

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  Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made [them] other five talents.  

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  And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained other two.  

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  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.  

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  After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.  

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  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  

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  His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  

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  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.  

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  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  

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  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:  

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  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine.  

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  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 have not strawed:  

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  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.  

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  Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten talents.  

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  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.  

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  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  

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  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  

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  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:  

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  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  

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  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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  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  

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  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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  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?  

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  When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?  

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  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  

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  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.  

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  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  

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  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  

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  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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  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  

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  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.  

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  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.  

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