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.
20. The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
21. His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22. The one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’
23. His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24. Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed,