Matthew

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

1Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten young women who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

NoteThe KJV word "virgins" means young unmarried women. They are part of the wedding party, waiting to walk with the bridegroom to the feast.

2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

2Five of them were wise, and five of them were foolish.

3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

3The foolish ones took their lamps, but they took no extra oil with them.

4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

4The wise ones took jars of oil along with their lamps.

5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

5The bridegroom was slow in coming, so all ten women grew sleepy and fell asleep.

6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

6At midnight someone shouted, "Look, the bridegroom is coming! Go out and meet him!"

7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

7Then all the young women woke up and got their lamps ready to burn.

8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

8The foolish ones said to the wise ones, "Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out."

9But 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.

9The wise ones answered, "No. There may not be enough for us and for you. Go buy your own oil."

10And 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.

10While they were gone buying oil, the bridegroom came. The ones who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.

11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

11Later the other young women came and said, "Sir, sir, open the door for us!"

12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

12But he answered, "I tell you the truth, I do not know you."

13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

13So stay awake and be ready. You do not know the day or the hour when the Son of Man will come.

14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

14The kingdom of heaven is also like a man leaving on a long trip. He called his servants and put his property in their care.

15And 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.

15He gave five talents to one, two to another, and one to another. He gave to each what matched his ability. Then he left.

NoteA talent was a very large amount of money, worth many years of a worker's pay. Even one talent was a lot to be trusted with.

16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

16The servant who got five talents went out right away and put the money to work. He gained five more.

17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

17In the same way, the one who got two talents gained two more.

18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

18But the servant who got one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.

19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

19After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.

20And 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.

20The one who had gotten five talents brought five more. He said, "Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I have gained five more."

21His 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.

21His master said, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, so I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's joy."

22He 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.

22The one who had gotten two talents also came. He said, "Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I have gained two more."

23His 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.

23His master said, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, so I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's joy."

24Then 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:

24Then the servant who had gotten one talent came. He said, "Master, I knew you are a hard man. You harvest where you did not plant and gather where you did not scatter seed.

25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

25I was afraid, so I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is. You have what belongs to you."

26His 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:

26His master answered, "You wicked, lazy servant. So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter seed.

27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

27Then you should have put my money in the bank. When I came back, I would have gotten it back with interest.

28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

28So take the talent away from him and give it to the servant who has ten talents.

29For 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.

29Everyone who has will be given more, and will have plenty. But whoever has nothing will lose even the little he has.

30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

30And throw that useless servant outside into the dark, where people cry and grind their teeth."

31When 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:

31When the Son of Man comes in his glory, with all the holy angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.

32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

32All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them into two groups, as a shepherd separates sheep from goats.

33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

33He will put the sheep on his right side and the goats on his left.

34Then 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:

34Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Take the kingdom made ready for you since the world began.

35For 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:

35For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me in.

NoteIn 1611 English, "meat" meant food of any kind, not just meat from animals.

36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

36I had no clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you cared for me. I was in prison and you came to see me."

37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

37Then the good people will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?

38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

38When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you in, or with no clothes and clothe you?

39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

39When did we see you sick or in prison and come to visit you?"

40And 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.

40And the King will answer, "I tell you the truth: whatever you did for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

41Then 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:

41Then he will say to those on his left, "Get away from me, you who are cursed. Go into the fire that never ends, made ready for the devil and his angels.

42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

42For I was hungry and you gave me no food. I was thirsty and you gave me no drink.

43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me in. I had no clothes and you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me."

44Then 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?

44Then they will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, without clothes, sick, or in prison, and not help you?"

45Then 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.

45Then he will answer, "I tell you the truth: whatever you did not do for one of the least important of these, you did not do for me."

46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

46These will go away into punishment that never ends, but the good people will go into life that never ends.