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- "Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
- "Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
- "For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
- but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
- "Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.
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- "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
- Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
- The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.
- The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.
- The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
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- "But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
- "Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
- "The foolish said to the prudent, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
- "But the prudent answered, 'No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'
- "And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.
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- "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
- "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
- The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
- " 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
- "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
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- "Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.'
- "But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'
- "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
- "For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
- "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
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- "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'
- "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
- "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
- "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
- To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
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- "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.
- "In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.
- "But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
- "Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
- "The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.'
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- The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.
- So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.
- But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
- "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
- The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
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- "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
- "Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.'
- "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'
- "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.
- 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'
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- "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
- "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
- "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
- "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
- So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
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- "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.
- 'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
- 'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.'
- "For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
- "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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- "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
- Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
- " 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
- For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
- And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
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