New American Standard Bible | ►► |
Parable of Ten Virgins
1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.2Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.3For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not takeextra oil with them;4but the prudent ones took oil in flasks with their lamps.5Now while the groom was delaying, they all became drowsy andbegan to sleep.6But at midnight[a]there finally was a shout: ‘Behold, the groom! Come out to meethim.’7Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.8But the foolishvirgins said to the prudent ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’9However, the prudent ones answered, ‘No, there most certainly would not be enough for us and youtoo; go instead to the merchants and buysome for yourselves.’10But while they were[b]on their way to buythe oil, the groom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.11Yet later, the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’12But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’13Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.Parable of the Talents
14“Forit is just like a manabout to go on a journey,who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.15To one he gave five[c]talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.16The one who had received the five talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five moretalents.17In the same way the one whohad received the twotalents earned two more.18But he who received the onetalent went away and duga hole in the ground, and hid his[d]master’s money.19“Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them.20The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have earned five more talents.’21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your[e]master.’22“Also the one whohad received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have earned two more talents.’23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’