The Gospel According to St. Matthew

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 25 -

Then the kingdome of heauen shalbe likened vnto tenne virgins, which tooke their lampes, and went foorth to meete the bridegrome.

And fiue of them were wise, and fiue foolish.

The foolish tooke their lampes, but tooke none oyle with them.

But the wise tooke oyle in their vessels with their lampes.

Nowe while the bridegrome taried long, all slumbred and slept.

And at midnight there was a crie made, Behold, the bridegrome commeth: goe out to meete him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lampes.

And the foolish said to the wise, Giue vs of your oyle, for our lampes are out.

But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there will not be ynough for vs and you: but goe ye rather to them that sell, and bye for your selues.

And while they went to bye, the bridegrome came: and they that were readie, went in with him to the wedding, and the gate was shut.

Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to vs.

But he answered, and said, Verely I say vnto you, I knowe you not.

Watch therfore: for ye know neither the day, nor the houre, when the sonne of man will come.

The Parable of the Talents

(Luke 19:11–27)

For the kingdome of heauen is as a man that going into a strange countrey, called his seruants, and deliuered to them his goods.

And vnto one he gaue fiue talents, and to an other two, and to another one, to euery man after his own ability, and straightway went from home.

Then he that had receiued the fiue talents, went and occupied with them, and gained other fiue talents.

Likewise also, he that receiued two, he also gained other two.

But he that receiued that one, went and digged it in the earth, and hid his masters money.

But after a long season, the master of those seruants came, and reckoned with them.

Then came he that had receiued fiue talents, and brought other fiue talents, saying, Master, thou deliueredst vnto me fiue talents: behold, I haue gained with them other fiue talents.

Then his master saide vnto him, It is well done good seruant and faithfull, Thou hast bene faithfull in litle, I will make thee ruler ouer much: enter into thy masters ioy.

Also he that had receiued two talents, came, and said, Master, thou deliueredst vnto me two talents: behold, I haue gained two other talets more.

His master saide vnto him, It is well done good seruant, and faithfull, Thou hast bene faithfull in litle, I will make thee ruler ouer much: enter into thy masters ioy.

Then he which had receiued the one talent, came, and said, Master, I knewe that thou wast an hard man, which reapest where thou sowedst not, and gatherest where thou strawedst not:

I was therefore afraide, and went, and hid thy talent in the earth: behold, thou hast thine owne.

And his master answered, and said vnto him, Thou euill seruant, and slouthfull, thou knewest that I reape where I sowed not, and gather where I strawed not.

Thou oughtest therefore to haue put my money to ye exchangers, and then at my comming should I haue receiued mine owne with vantage.

Take therefore the talent from him, and giue it vnto him which hath tenne talents.

For vnto euery man that hath, it shall be giuen, and he shall haue abundance, and from him that hath not, euen that he hath, shalbe taken away.

Cast therefore that vnprofitable seruant into vtter darkenes: there shalbe weeping and gnasshing of teeth.

The Sheep and the Goats

And when the Sonne of man commeth in his glory, and all the holy Angels with him, then shall he sit vpon the throne of his glorie,

And before him shalbe gathered all nations, and he shall seperate them one from another, as a shepheard separateth the sheepe from ye goates.

And he shall set the sheepe on his right hand, and the goates on the left.

Then shall ye king say to them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my father: take the inheritance of the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was an hungred, and ye gaue me meate: I thirsted, and ye gaue me drinke: I was a stranger, and ye tooke me in vnto you.

I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sicke, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came vnto me.

Then shall the righteous answere him, saying, Lord, when sawe we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or a thirst, and gaue thee drinke?

And when sawe we thee a stranger, and tooke thee in vnto vs? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when sawe we thee sicke, or in prison, and came vnto thee?

And the King shall answere, and say vnto them, Verely I say vnto you, in as much as ye haue done it vnto one of the least of these my brethre, ye haue done it to me.

Then shall he say vnto them on ye left hand, Depart from me ye cursed, into euerlasting fire, which is prepared for the deuill and his angels.

For I was an hungred, and ye gaue me no meate: I thirsted, and ye gaue me no drinke:

I was a stranger, and ye tooke me not in vnto you: I was naked, and ye clothed me not: sicke, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answere him, saying, Lord, when sawe we thee an hungred, or a thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sicke, or in prison, and did not minister vnto thee?

Then shall he answere them, and say, Verely I say vnto you, in as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

And these shall goe into euerlasting paine, and the righteous into life eternall.

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,

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

Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. (a)

The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.

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

But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

The Parable of the Talents

(Luke 19:11–27)

“For it is like a man going into another country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them.

To one he gave five talents, (b) to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.

Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.

But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth and hid his lord’s money.

“Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and settled accounts with them.

He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

“He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter.

I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’

“But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter.

You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.

Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away.

Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Sheep and the Goats

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.

Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;

for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in.

I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?

When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you?

When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’

“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, (c) you did it to me.’

Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;

for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;

I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

“Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’

“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Footnotes

(a)25:7 The end of the wick of an oil lamp needs to be cut off periodically to avoid having it become clogged with carbon deposits. The wick height is also adjusted so that the flame burns evenly and gives good light without producing a lot of smoke.

(b)25:15 A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds (usually used to weigh silver unless otherwise specified)