The Darby Translation DBY
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Then shall the kingdom of the heavens be made like to ten virgins that having taken their torches, went forth to meet the bridegroom.
1
"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 And five of them were prudent and five foolish.
2
Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 They that were foolish took their torches and did not take oil with them;
3
The foolish bridesmaids took their lamps, but they didn't take any extra oil.
4 but the prudent took oil in their vessels with their torches.
4
The wise bridesmaids, however, took along extra oil for their lamps.
5 Now the bridegroom tarrying, they all grew heavy and slept.
5
Since the groom was late, all the bridesmaids became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 But in [the] middle of [the] night there was a cry, Behold, the bridegroom; go forth to meet him.
6
"At midnight someone shouted, 'The groom is here! Come to meet him!'
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their torches.
7
Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready.
8 And the foolish said to the prudent, Give us of your oil, for our torches are going out.
8
"The foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out.'
9 But the prudent answered saying, [We cannot,] lest it might not suffice for us and for you. Go rather to those that sell, and buy for yourselves.
9
"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 as they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and the [ones that were] ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
10
"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 Afterwards come also the rest of the virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us;
11
"Later the other bridesmaids arrived and said, 'Sir, sir, open the door for us!'
12 but he answering said, Verily I say unto you, I do not know you.
12
"But he answered them, 'I don't even know who you are!'
13 Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.
13
"So stay awake, because you don't know the day or the hour.
14 For [it is] as [if] a man going away out of a country called his own bondmen and delivered to them his substance.
14
"The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a trip. He called his servants and entrusted some money to them.
15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to each according to his particular ability, and immediately went away out of the country.
15
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 And he that had received the five talents went and trafficked with them, and made five other talents.
16
"The one who received ten thousand dollars invested the money at once and doubled his money.
17 In like manner also he that [had received] the two, [he also] gained two others.
17
The one who had four thousand dollars did the same and also doubled his money.
18 But he that had received the one went and dug in the earth, and hid the money of his lord.
18
But the one who received two thousand dollars went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.
19 And after a long time the lord of those bondmen comes and reckons with them.
19
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 And he that had received the five talents came to [him] and brought five other talents, saying, [My] lord, thou deliveredst me five talents; behold, I have gained five other talents besides them.
20
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 lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman, thou wast faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter into the joy of thy lord.
21
"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 And he also that had received the two talents came to [him] and said, [My] lord, thou deliveredst me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents besides them.
22
"The one who received four thousand dollars came and said, 'Sir, you gave me four thousand dollars. I've doubled the amount.'
23 His lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman, thou wast faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
23
"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 And he also that had received the one talent coming to [him] said, [My] lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hadst not sowed, and gathering from where thou hadst not scattered,
24
"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 and being afraid I went away and hid thy talent in the earth; behold, thou hast that which is thine.
25
I was afraid. So I hid your two thousand dollars in the ground. Here's your money!'
26 And his lord answering said to him, Wicked and slothful bondman, thou knewest that I reap where I had not sowed, and gather from where I had not scattered;
26
"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 thou oughtest then to have put my money to the money-changers, and when I came I should have got what is mine with interest.
27
then you should have invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would have received my money back with interest.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that has the ten talents:
28
Take the two thousand dollars away from him! Give it to the one who has the ten thousand!
29 for to every one that has shall be given, and he shall be in abundance; but from him that has not, that even which he has shall be taken from him.
29
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 And cast out the useless bondman into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
30
Throw this useless servant outside into the darkness. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.'
31 But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit down upon his throne of glory,
31
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.
32 and all the nations shall be gathered before him; and he shall separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
32
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 and he will set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on [his] left.
33
He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left.
34 Then shall the King say to those on his right hand, Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from [the] world's foundation:
34
"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 for I hungered, and ye gave me to eat; I thirsted, and ye gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in;
35
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 naked, and ye clothed me; I was ill, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came to me.
36
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 shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungering, and nourished thee; or thirsting, and gave thee to drink?
37
"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 and when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in; or naked, and clothed thee?
38
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 and when saw we thee ill, or in prison, and came to thee?
39
When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
40 And the King answering shall say to them, Verily, I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.
40
"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 shall he say also to those on the left, Go from me, cursed, into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
41
"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 for I hungered, and ye gave me not to eat; I thirsted, and ye gave me not to drink;
42
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 ye took me not in; naked, and ye did not clothe me; ill, and in prison, and ye did not visit me.
43
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 shall *they* also answer saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or ill, or in prison, and have not ministered to thee?
44
"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 shall he answer them saying, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have not done it to one of these least, neither have ye done it to me.
45
"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 these shall go away into eternal punishment, and the righteous into life eternal.
46
"These people will go away into eternal punishment, but those with God's approval will go into eternal life."
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.
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.