Common English Bible CEB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten young bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.
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"When the end comes, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids. They took their oil lamps and went to meet the groom.
2 Now five of them were wise, and the other five were foolish.
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Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 The foolish ones took their lamps but didn't bring oil for them.
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The foolish bridesmaids took their lamps, but they didn't take any extra oil.
4 But the wise ones took their lamps and also brought containers of oil.
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The wise bridesmaids, however, took along extra oil for their lamps.
5 “When the groom was late in coming, they all became drowsy and went to sleep.
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Since the groom was late, all the bridesmaids became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Look, the groom! Come out to meet him.'
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"At midnight someone shouted, 'The groom is here! Come to meet him!'
7 “Then all those bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.
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Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready.
8 But the foolish bridesmaids said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps have gone out.'
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"The foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out.'
9 “But the wise bridesmaids replied, ‘No, because if we share with you, there won't be enough for our lamps and yours. We have a better idea. You go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
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"But the wise bridesmaids replied, 'We can't do that. There won't be enough for both of us. Go! Find someone to sell you some oil.'
10 But while they were gone to buy oil, the groom came. Those who were ready went with him into the wedding. Then the door was shut.
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"While they were buying oil, the groom arrived. The bridesmaids who were ready went with him into the wedding hall, and the door was shut.
11 “Later the other bridesmaids came and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us.'
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"Later the other bridesmaids arrived and said, 'Sir, sir, open the door for us!'
12 “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
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"But he answered them, 'I don't even know who you are!'
13 “Therefore, keep alert, because you don't know the day or the hour.
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"So stay awake, because you don't know the day or the hour.
14 “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip. He called his servants and handed his possessions over to them.
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"The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a trip. He called his servants and entrusted some money to them.
15 To one he gave five valuable coins, and to another he gave two, and to another he gave one. He gave to each servant according to that servant's ability. Then he left on his journey.
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He gave one man ten thousand dollars, another four thousand dollars, and another two thousand dollars. Each was given money based on his ability. Then the man went on his trip.
16 “After the man left, the servant who had five valuable coins took them and went to work doing business with them. He gained five more.
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"The one who received ten thousand dollars invested the money at once and doubled his money.
17 In the same way, the one who had two valuable coins gained two more.
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The one who had four thousand dollars did the same and also doubled his money.
18 But the servant who had received the one valuable coin dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money.
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But the one who received two thousand dollars went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
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"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 The one who had received five valuable coins came forward with five additional coins. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five valuable coins. Look, I've gained five more.'
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The one who received ten thousand dollars brought the additional ten thousand. He said, 'Sir, you gave me ten thousand dollars. I've doubled the amount.'
21 “His master replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good and faithful servant! You've been faithful over a little. I'll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.'
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"His master replied, 'Good job! You're a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's happiness.'
22 “The second servant also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two valuable coins. Look, I've gained two more.'
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"The one who received four thousand dollars came and said, 'Sir, you gave me four thousand dollars. I've doubled the amount.'
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. You've been faithful over a little. I'll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.'
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"His master replied, 'Good job! You're a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's happiness.'
24 “Now the one who had received one valuable coin came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man. You harvest grain where you haven't sown. You gather crops where you haven't spread seed.
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"Then the one who received two thousand dollars came and said, 'Sir, I knew that you are a hard person to please. You harvest where you haven't planted and gather where you haven't scattered any seeds.
25 So I was afraid. And I hid my valuable coin in the ground. Here, you have what's yours.'
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I was afraid. So I hid your two thousand dollars in the ground. Here's your money!'
26 “His master replied, ‘You evil and lazy servant! You knew that I harvest grain where I haven't sown and that I gather crops where I haven't spread seed?
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"His master responded, 'You evil and lazy servant! If you knew that I harvest where I haven't planted and gather where I haven't scattered,
27 In that case, you should have turned my money over to the bankers so that when I returned, you could give me what belonged to me with interest.
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then you should have invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would have received my money back with interest.
28 Therefore, take from him the valuable coin and give it to the one who has ten coins.
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Take the two thousand dollars away from him! Give it to the one who has the ten thousand!
29 Those who have much will receive more, and they will have more than they need. But as for those who don't have much, even the little bit they have will be taken away from them.
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To all who have, more will be given, and they will have more than enough. But everything will be taken away from those who don't have much.
30 Now take the worthless servant and throw him outside into the darkness.' “People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.
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Throw this useless servant outside into the darkness. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.'
31 “Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne.
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"When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.
32 All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
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The people of every nation will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left.
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He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left.
34 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began.
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"Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
35 I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
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I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home.
36 I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.'
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I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'
37 “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?
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"Then the people who have God's approval will reply to him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or see you thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear?
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When did we see you as a stranger and take you into our homes or see you in need of clothes and give you something to wear?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
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When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
40 “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.'
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"The king will answer them, 'I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant [they seemed], you did for me.'
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me, you who will receive terrible things. Go into the unending fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels.
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"Then the king will say to those on his left, 'Get away from me! God has cursed you! Go into everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels!
42 I was hungry and you didn't give me food to eat. I was thirsty and you didn't give me anything to drink.
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I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink.
43 I was a stranger and you didn't welcome me. I was naked and you didn't give me clothes to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'
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I was a stranger, and you didn't take me into your homes. I needed clothes, and you didn't give me anything to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't take care of me.'
44 "Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn't do anything to help you?'
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"They, too, will ask, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or in need of clothes or sick or in prison and didn't help you?'
45 Then he will answer, ‘I assure you that when you haven't done it for one of the least of these, you haven't done it for me.'
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"He will answer them, 'I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you failed to do for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant [they seemed], you failed to do for me.'
46 And they will go away into eternal punishment. But the righteous ones will go into eternal life."
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"These people will go away into eternal punishment, but those with God's approval will go into eternal life."
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.