Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 "Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
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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 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
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Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
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The foolish bridesmaids took their lamps, but they didn't take any extra oil.
4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
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The wise bridesmaids, however, took along extra oil for their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
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Since the groom was late, all the bridesmaids became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made: `Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.'
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"At midnight someone shouted, 'The groom is here! Come to meet him!'
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
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Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, `Give us of your oil, for our lamps are 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 answered, saying, `Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy 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 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and 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 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us!'
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"Later the other bridesmaids arrived and said, 'Sir, sir, open the door for us!'
12 But he answered and said, `Verily I say unto you, I know you not.'
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"But he answered them, 'I don't even know who you are!'
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.
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"So stay awake, because you don't know the day or the hour.
14 "For the Kingdom of Heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods.
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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 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his several ability, and straightway tookhis 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 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them another five talents.
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"The one who received ten thousand dollars invested the money at once and doubled his money.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained another two.
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The one who had four thousand dollars did the same and also doubled his money.
18 But he that had received one went and dug in the earth and hid his lord'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 After a long time the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them.
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"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought the other five talents, saying, `Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents. Behold, I have gained beside them five talents 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 lord said unto him, `Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.'
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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 "He also that had received two talents came and said, `Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.'
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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 lord said unto him, `Well done, good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.'
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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 "Then he that had received the one talent came and said, `Lord, I knew thee, that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed.
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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 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth. Lo, there thou hast what is thine.'
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I was afraid. So I hid your two thousand dollars in the ground. Here's your money!'
26 His lord answered and said unto him, `Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed.
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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 Thou ought therefore to have placed my money with the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own 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 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath ten talents.
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Take the two thousand dollars away from him! Give it to the one who has the ten thousand!
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath.
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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 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
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Throw this useless servant outside into the darkness. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.'
31 "When the Son of Man shall come in His glory and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.
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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 And before Him shall be gathered all nations, and He shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his 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 And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
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He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, `Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
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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 For I hungered, and ye gave Me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took Me in;
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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 naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto 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 shall the righteous answer Him, saying, `Lord, when saw we Thee hungering and fed Thee, or thirsty and gave Thee 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 saw we Thee a stranger and took Thee in, or naked and clothed Thee?
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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 Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee?'
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When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, `Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto 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 shall He say also unto them on the left hand, `Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire 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 For I hungered, and ye gave Me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no 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 ye took Me not in; naked, and ye clothed Me not; sick and in prison, and ye visited Me not.'
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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 shall they also answer Him, saying, `Lord, when saw we Thee hungering or athirst or a stranger, or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee?'
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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 shall He answer them, saying, `Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to 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 these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal."
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"These people will go away into eternal punishment, but those with God's approval will go into eternal life."
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
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.