¶ Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened unto x. virgins, which took their lamps, and went to meet the bridegroom: five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish took their lamps, but took none oil with them. But the wise took oil with them in their vessels with their lamps also. While the bridegroom tarried, all slumbered and slept. And even at midnight, there was a cry made: behold, the bridegroom cometh, go and meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and prepared their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise: give us of your oil, for our lamps go out? But the wise answered, saying: not so, lest there be not enough for us and you, but go rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. In conclusion while they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the wedding, and the gate was shut up. Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying: master, master open to us. But he answered, and said: verily I say unto you: I know you not: look that ye watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor yet the hour, when the son of man shall come.
¶ Likewise as a certain man ready to take his journey to a strange country, called his servants to him, and delivered to them his goods. And unto one he gave v. talents, to another ij. and to another one: to every man after his ability, and straight way departed. Then he that had received the five talents, went and bestowed them, and won other five. Likewise he that received ij. gained other ij. But he that received one, went and digged a pit in the earth and hid his master's money. After a long season the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them. Then came he that had received five talents, and brought other five saying: master, thou deliveredst unto me five talents, lo I have gained with them five more. His master said unto him: well good servant and faithful, Thou hast been faithful in little, I will make thee ruler over much: enter in into thy master's joy. Also he that received ij. talents came, and said: master, thou deliveredest unto me ij. talents: lo I have won ij. other talents with them. His master said unto him, well good servant and faithful thou hast been faithful in little, I will make thee ruler over much, go in into thy master's joy.
¶ He which had received the one talent came also, and said: master, I considered that thou wast an hard man, which reapest where thou sowedst not, and gatherest where thou strawedst not, and was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own. His master answered, and said unto him: evil servant and slothful, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I strawed not: thou oughtest therefore to have had my money to the changers, and then at my coming should I have received my money with vantage. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath x. talents. For unto every man that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. And from him that hath not, shall be taken away, even that he hath. And cast that unprofitable servant into utter darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
¶ When the son of man shall come in his majesty, and all his holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty, and before him shall be gathered all nations. And he shall sever them one from another, as a shepherd putteth asunder the sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on the left hand. Then shall the King say to them on his right hand: Come ye blessed children of my father, inherit ye the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat. I thirsted, and ye gave me drink. I was harborless, and ye lodged me. I was naked and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me. I was in prison and ye came unto me.
¶ Then shall the just answer him saying: master, when, saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or a thirst, and gave thee drink? when saw we thee harborless, and lodged thee? or naked and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, or in prison and came unto thee? And the king shall answer and say unto them: verily I say unto you: in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren: ye have done it to me.
¶ Then shall the king say unto them that shall be on the left hand: depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat. I thirsted, and ye gave me no drink. I was harborless, and ye lodged me not. I was naked, and ye clothed me not. I was sick and in prison, and ye visited me not.
¶ Then shall they also answer him saying: master, when saw we thee an hungered, or a thirst, or harborless, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and have not ministered unto thee? then shall he answer them, and say: Verily I say unto 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 go into everlasting pain: And the righteous into life eternal.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526