Mace(i)
1 The kingdom of the Messiah will then be such, as when ten virgins took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 they that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 while the bridegroom tarried, they were drowsy and slept.
6 and at midnight there was a sudden cry, see the bridegroom comes; go and meet him.
7 then the virgins all arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 and the foolish said to the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out.
9 but the wise answered, for fear there should not be enough for us and you, go rather to those that sell; and buy for your selves.
10 and while they were gone to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready, entred with him into the hall, and the door was shut.
11 afterwards came the other virgins likewise, and cry'd,
12 Lord, Lord, pray let us in. but he answered, I assure you, I know you not.
13 watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour.
14 So it was when a man was going to travel into a foreign country, he called his servants, and delivered to them his stock:
15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his respective ability, and then set out on his journey.
16 now he that had received five talents, immediately employed them in trade, and gain'd five talents more.
17 so he that had received two, gained likewise other two.
18 but he that had received one, went to dig a hole in the ground, and hid his lord's money.
19 after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them.
20 accordingly he that had received five talents, came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents: besides those, there's five talents more, which I have gain'd.
21 his lord said to him, well done, thou art an honest faithful servant; thou hast been faithful in a small trust, I will give thee a much larger trust; go in and partake of thy master's diversions.
22 he also that had received two talents, came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents: here are two other talents which I have gain'd besides them.
23 his lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful in a small trust, I will give thee a much larger trust: go in and partake of your master's joy.
24 then came he who had received the one talent, and said, Lord, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered:
25 fear made me hide the talent under ground: but there you have what is your own.
26 his lord answered and said unto him, thou vile slothful wretch, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not scatter'd:
27 should not you then have lodged my money at the banker's, and so at my return I should have received my own with interest.
28 here, take the talent from him, and give it to him that has the ten.
29 for he that makes use of what he has, shall have more; but if he makes no improvement thereof, it shall be taken from him.
30 take then that worthless fellow, turn him out in the dark, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 When the son of man shall come in his majesty, accompanied with all his holy angels, he shall sit upon the throne of his glory.
32 then all nations shall be assembled before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats.
33 and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 the king shall say to those on his right hand, come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 for I was prest with hunger, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye took care of me: I was in prison, and ye visited me.
37 then will the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee in hunger, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 or when did we see thee sick, or in prison, and visited thee?
40 and the king will reply, I declare unto you, your having done this for one of the least of these my brethren, is the same thing as doing it for me.
41 then will he say to those on the left, depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 for I was prest with hunger, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no 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.
44 then will they answer, Lord, when did we see thee in hunger, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 to this he will reply, I declare unto you, your not doing this for one of the least of these, is the same thing as not doing it for me.
46 and these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.