Matthew 25

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1} "Then will the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten maidens who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride. ^{Tools
2} And five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ^{Tools
3} The foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them; ^{Tools
4} but the wise took oil in their flasks with their lamps. ^{Tools
5} Now because the bridegroom tarried, they all fell to nodding and went on sleeping.

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6} But at midnight there arose a cry, "'Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him!'

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7} "Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps; ^{Tools
8} "and the foolish said to the wise, "'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

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9} "'Not so, answered the wise, 'for there may not be enough for you and for us. Go to the shops, rather, and buy some for yourselves.'

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10} "And while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding-feast. And the door was shut.

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11} "Afterwards the other maidens came and cried, "'Lord, Lord, open unto us!'

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12} "'In solemn truth I tell you,' he replied, 'I know you not.'

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13} "Be watchful then, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

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14} "For it is like a man going into another country, who summoned his slaves, and committed his property to their care. ^{Tools
15} "To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another, one??o each according to his individual ability??nd then set out on his travels. ^{Tools
16} "At once the man who had received the five talents went out and traded with them, and made five talents more. ^{Tools
17} "In the same way the one who got two talents made another two. ^{Tools
18} "But he who had received the one talent went off, and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.

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19} "After a long time the master of those slaves came, and demanded a reckoning with them. ^{Tools
20} "The man who had received the five talents came, bringing five more, and said: "'Master, five talents you entrusted to me; see, I have gained five more.'

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21} "'Well done, good and faithful slave,' replied his master; 'You have been faithful over many things. Enter into your master's joy.'

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22} "The second, who had received the two talents, came up and said: "'Master, it was two talents that you entrusted to me; see, I have gained two more.'

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23} "'Well done, good and faithful slave,' his master replied, 'You have been faithful over many things; enter into your master's joy.'

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24} "Then the man who had received the one talent came up and said: "'Master, I knew you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown, and gathering where you had not scattered; ^{Tools
25} "so I was afraid; I went away and buried your talent in the earth. There, you have what belongs to you!'

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26} "'You wicked and lazy slave,' said his master. 'You say you knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not scattered?' ^{Tools
27} Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my property with interest.

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28} So take away the talent from him, and give it to the man who has ten talents. ^{Tools
29} (For to every one who has, it shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.) ^{Tools
30} But cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.'

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31} "But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then will he take his seat on the throne of his glory; ^{Tools
32} "and all the nations will be gathered in his presence. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats; ^{Tools
33} "and he will place the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. ^{Tools
34} "Then he, the King will say to those on his right hand. "'Come, my Father's blessed ones, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

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35} "'For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; ^{Tools
36} "'I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to see me.'

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37} "Then shall the righteous answer him, saying. 'Master, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? ^{Tools
38} "'When did we see you a stranger and take you in; or naked and clothe you? ^{Tools
39} "'When did we see you sick or in prison, and come to see you?'

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40} "'In solemn truth I tell you,' the King will answer them, 'that inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, my brothers, you have done it unto me.' ^{Tools
41} "Then he will say to those also at his left hand. 'Depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;

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42} "for I was hungry, and you gave me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; ^{Tools
43} "I was a stranger, and you took me not in; naked, and you clothed me not; sick, or in prison, and you visited me not.'

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44} "Then will they also answer, 'Master, when did we ever see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?'

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45} "But he will reply, 'In solemn truth I tell you that inasmuch as you did not do it unto one of these least, you did not do it unto me.'

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46} "And these will go away into eternal punishment; but the righteous into eternal life."