Matthew 25:1-13

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ¹ten virgins who took their lamps^[a] and went to meet ²the bridegroom.^[b]

2 Five of them were foolish, and five were ³wise.

3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

5 As the bridegroom ⁴was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

6 But ⁵at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'

7 Then all those virgins rose and ⁶trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

9 But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'

10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and ⁷those who were ready went in with him to ⁸the marriage feast, and ⁹the door was shut.

11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ¹⁰'Lord, lord, open to us.'

12 ¹¹But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, ¹²I do not know you.'

13 ¹³Watch therefore, for you ¹⁴know neither the day nor the hour.

Cross References

• 1. Luke 19:13
• 2. Matthew 9:15; John 3:29; Revelation 19:7; Revelation 21:2, 9
• 3. [See Matthew 24:45 above]
• 4. Matthew 24:48; [ver. 19; Hebrews 10:37; 2 Peter 3:4, 9]
• 5. Mark 13:35
• 6. [Luke 12:35]
• 7. Matthew 24:44
• 8. Matthew 22:2
• 9. For ver. 10-12, [Luke 13:25-27]
• 10. [Matthew 7:22, 23]
• 11. [See ver. 11 above]
• 12. Matthew 10:33; [2 Timothy 2:19]
• 13. Matthew 24:42
• 14. [Matthew 24:50]

Footnotes

• [a]. Or torches
• [b]. Some manuscripts add and the bride