New Living Translation NLT
Common English Bible CEB
1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
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“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten young bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
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Now five of them were wise, and the other five were foolish.
3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps,
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The foolish ones took their lamps but didn't bring oil for them.
4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.
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But the wise ones took their lamps and also brought containers of oil.
5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
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“When the groom was late in coming, they all became drowsy and went to sleep.
6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’
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But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Look, the groom! Come out to meet him.'
7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.
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“Then all those bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.
8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
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But the foolish bridesmaids said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps have gone out.'
9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
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“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.'
10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.
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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.
11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
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“Later the other bridesmaids came and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us.'
12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
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“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
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“Therefore, keep alert, because you don't know the day or the hour.
14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.
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“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.
15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
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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.
16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.
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“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.
17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.
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In the same way, the one who had two valuable coins gained two more.
18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.
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But the servant who had received the one valuable coin dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money.
19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.
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“Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’
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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.'
21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together! ’
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“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.'
22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’
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“The second servant also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two valuable coins. Look, I've gained two more.'
23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
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“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.'
24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate.
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“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.
25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’
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So I was afraid. And I hid my valuable coin in the ground. Here, you have what's yours.'
26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate,
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“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?
27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
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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.
28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.
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Therefore, take from him the valuable coin and give it to the one who has ten coins.
29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
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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.
30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
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Now take the worthless servant and throw him outside into the darkness.' “People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.
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“Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne.
32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
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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.
33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
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He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
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“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.
35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
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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.
36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
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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.'
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?
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“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?
38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?
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When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear?
39 When did we ever 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 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
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“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.'
41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.
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“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.
42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink.
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I was hungry and you didn't give me food to eat. I was thirsty and you didn't give me anything to drink.
43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
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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.'
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
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"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?'
45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
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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.'
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
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And they will go away into eternal punishment. But the righteous ones will go into eternal life."