1. “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2. Five of the virgins were foolish, and five were wise.
3. When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them.
4. But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps.
5. When the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.’
7. Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
8. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’
9. ‘No,’ they replied. ‘There won’t be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10. But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then the door was shut.
11. Later, the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, lord! Let us in!’
12. But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I do not know you!’
13. Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour.
14. “For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them.
15. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
16. The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more.
17. In the same way, the one who had two gained two more.
18. But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it.
19. After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them.