THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS

Matthew 25:1-13

AT THAT TIME THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

WILL BE LIKE TEN VIRGINS

WHO TOOK THEIR LAMPS

AND WENT OUT TO MEET THE BRIDEGROOM.

2 FIVE OF THEM WERE FOOLISH

AND FIVE WERE WISE.

3 TO FOOLISH ONES TOOK THEIR LAMPS

BUT DID NOT TAKE ANY OIL WITH THEM.

4 THE WISE, HOWEVER, TOOK OIL IN JARS

ALONG WITH THEIR LAMPS.

5 THE BRIDEGROOM WAS A LONG TIME COMING,

AND THEY ALL BECAME DROWSY AND FELL ASLEEP.

6 AT MIDNIGHT THE CRY RAN OUT:

'HERE'S THE BRIDEGROOM!

COME OUT TO MEET HIM!'

7 THEN ALL THE VIRGINS WOKE UP

AND TRIMMED THEIR LAMPS.

8 THE FOOLISH ONES SAID TO THE WISE,

'GIVE US SOME OF YOUR OIL;

OUR LAMPS ARE GOING OUT.'

9 'NO,' THEY REPLIED,

THEIR MAY NOT BE ENOUGH FOR BOTH US AND YOU.

INSTEAD, GO TO THOSE WHO SELL OIL

AND BUY SOME FOR YOURSELVES.'

10 'BUT WHILE THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO BUY OIL,

THE BRIDEGROOM ARRIVED.

THE VIRGINS WHO WERE READY

WENT IN WITH HIM TO THE WEDDING BANQUET.

AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT.

11 LATER THE OTHERS ALSO CAME.

'SIR! SIR! THEY SAID.

OPEN THE DOOR FOR US!'

12 BUT HE REPLIED,

'I TELL YOU THE TRUTH,

I DON'T KNOW YOU.'

13 'THEREFORE KEEP WATCH,

BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW

THE DAY OR THE HOUR.'

(Matthew 25:1-13)