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.’