Matthew 25 Darby Translation
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Then shall the kingdom of the heavens be made like to ten virgins that having taken their torches, went forth to meet the bridegroom.
1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were prudent and five foolish.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 They that were foolish took their torches and did not take oil with them;
3 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,
4 but the prudent took oil in their vessels with their torches.
4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 Now the bridegroom tarrying, they all grew heavy and slept.
5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 But in [the] middle of [the] night there was a cry, Behold, the bridegroom; go forth to meet him.
6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their torches.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the prudent, Give us of your oil, for our torches are going out.
8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9 But the prudent answered saying, [We cannot,] lest it might not suffice for us and for you. Go rather to those that sell, and buy for yourselves.
9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
10 But as they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and the [ones that were] ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
10 While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
11 Afterwards come also the rest of the virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us;
11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’
12 but he answering said, Verily I say unto you, I do not know you.
12 But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.
13 Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
14 For [it is] as [if] a man going away out of a country called his own bondmen and delivered to them his substance.
14 “For it is like a man going into another country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them.
15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to each according to his particular ability, and immediately went away out of the country.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
16 And he that had received the five talents went and trafficked with them, and made five other talents.
16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17 In like manner also he that [had received] the two, [he also] gained two others.
17 In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.
18 But he that had received the one went and dug in the earth, and hid the money of his lord.
18 But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth and hid his lord’s money.
19 And after a long time the lord of those bondmen comes and reckons with them.
19 “Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and settled accounts with them.
20 And he that had received the five talents came to [him] and brought five other talents, saying, [My] lord, thou deliveredst me five talents; behold, I have gained five other talents besides them.
20 He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’
21 His lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman, thou wast faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter into the joy of thy lord.
21 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
22 And he also that had received the two talents came to [him] and said, [My] lord, thou deliveredst me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents besides them.
22 “He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’
23 His lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman, thou wast faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
23 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 And he also that had received the one talent coming to [him] said, [My] lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hadst not sowed, and gathering from where thou hadst not scattered,
24 “He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter.
25 and being afraid I went away and hid thy talent in the earth; behold, thou hast that which is thine.
25 I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’
26 And his lord answering said to him, Wicked and slothful bondman, thou knewest that I reap where I had not sowed, and gather from where I had not scattered;
26 “But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter.
27 thou oughtest then to have put my money to the money-changers, and when I came I should have got what is mine with interest.
27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that has the ten talents:
28 Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 for to every one that has shall be given, and he shall be in abundance; but from him that has not, that even which he has shall be taken from him.
29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away.
30 And cast out the useless bondman into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
30 Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
31 But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit down upon his throne of glory,
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
32 and all the nations shall be gathered before him; and he shall separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 and he will set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on [his] left.
33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say to those on his right hand, Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from [the] world's foundation:
34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35 for I hungered, and ye gave me to eat; I thirsted, and ye gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in;
35 for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in.
36 naked, and ye clothed me; I was ill, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came to me.
36 I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’
37 Then shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungering, and nourished thee; or thirsting, and gave thee to drink?
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?
38 and when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in; or naked, and clothed thee?
38 When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you?
39 and when saw we thee ill, or in prison, and came to thee?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’
40 And the King answering shall say to them, Verily, I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.
40 “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41 Then shall he say also to those on the left, Go from me, cursed, into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;
42 for I hungered, and ye gave me not to eat; I thirsted, and ye gave me not to drink;
42 for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye did not clothe me; ill, and in prison, and ye did not visit me.
43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 Then shall they also answer saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or ill, or in prison, and have not ministered to thee?
44 “Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’
45 Then shall he answer them saying, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have not done it to one of these least, neither have ye done it to me.
45 “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’
46 And these shall go away into eternal punishment, and the righteous into life eternal.
46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Cross references (43)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Luke 12:35–36; Matthew 24:42–51; Revelation 19:7; Philippians 2:15–16; John 3:29
- 2 Jeremiah 24:2; 1 Corinthians 10:1–5; Matthew 13:47–48; Matthew 13:19–23; 1 John 2:19
- 3 2 Timothy 3:5; Revelation 3:15–16; Isaiah 48:1–2; Isaiah 58:2; Revelation 3:1
- 4 Romans 8:9; 1 John 2:20; 1 John 2:27; John 3:34; Psalm 45:7
- 5 Habakkuk 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:6–8; 2 Peter 3:4–9; Matthew 24:48; Luke 20:9
- 6 2 Peter 3:10; John 5:28–29; Matthew 24:31; Matthew 25:1; Matthew 24:44
- 7 Luke 12:35; 2 Peter 3:14; Revelation 3:19–20; Revelation 2:4–5; Revelation 3:2
- 8 Proverbs 13:9; Luke 12:35; Hebrews 4:1; Matthew 13:20–21; Revelation 3:9
- 9 Psalm 49:7–9; Revelation 3:17–18; Isaiah 55:6–7; Isaiah 55:1–3; Ezekiel 14:20
- 10 Luke 13:25; Matthew 24:44; 1 Peter 1:13; Luke 12:36–37; Genesis 7:16
- 11 Matthew 7:21–23; Hebrews 12:16–17
- 12 1 Corinthians 8:3; 2 Timothy 2:19; John 10:27; Luke 13:26–30; Psalm 5:5
- 13 Matthew 24:42–44; Revelation 16:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Luke 21:36; 1 Corinthians 16:13
- 14 Mark 13:34; 1 Peter 4:9–11; Romans 12:6–8; Luke 19:12–27; Matthew 25:14–30
- 15 Matthew 18:24; Luke 19:13–14; Luke 12:48
- 16 Philemon 6–7; 3 John 5–8; 1 Timothy 6:17–18; 2 Timothy 2:6; Acts 13:36
- 17 Proverbs 3:9–10; Ephesians 5:16; Ecclesiastes 11:1–6; Colossians 4:17; 1 Peter 4:10
- 18 2 Peter 1:8; Proverbs 26:13–16; Malachi 1:10; Hebrews 6:12; Haggai 1:2–4
- 19 1 Corinthians 3:12–15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:7–12; Matthew 18:23–24; Luke 16:1–2
- 20 Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 15:10; 2 Timothy 4:1–8; Luke 19:16–17; Colossians 1:29
- 21 Matthew 25:23; Luke 16:10; John 12:26; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 3:21
- 22 2 Corinthians 8:12; Romans 12:6–8; 2 Corinthians 8:7–8; Luke 19:18–19; 2 Corinthians 8:1–3
- 23 Matthew 25:21; Mark 14:8–9; Mark 12:41–44
- 24 Luke 19:20–22; Luke 15:29; Malachi 3:14–15; Ezekiel 18:25–29; Jeremiah 2:31
- 25 2 Timothy 1:6–7; Romans 8:15; Proverbs 26:13; Revelation 21:8; Isaiah 57:11
- 26 Matthew 18:32; Job 15:5–6
- 27 Luke 19:22–23; Jude 15; Deuteronomy 23:19–20; Romans 3:19
- 28 Luke 19:24; Luke 10:42
- 29 Luke 8:18; Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 19:25–26; John 15:2
- 30 Matthew 8:12; Matthew 13:50; Revelation 3:15–16; Matthew 22:13; Hebrews 6:7–8
- 31 Revelation 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–8; Matthew 19:28; Jude 14; Mark 8:38
- 32 Malachi 3:18; Matthew 13:49; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Psalm 98:9; Ezekiel 34:17–22
- 33 Psalm 100:3; Psalm 45:9; John 10:26–28; John 21:15–17; Psalm 110:1
- 34 1 Peter 1:19–20; James 2:5; Revelation 21:7; Revelation 13:8; 1 Peter 1:3–5
- 35 1 John 3:16–19; James 2:15–16; Deuteronomy 15:7–11; Ezekiel 18:7; Ezekiel 18:16
- 36 James 1:27; James 5:14–15; Hebrews 13:3; 2 Timothy 1:16–18; James 2:14–16
- 37 Matthew 6:3; 1 Peter 5:5–6; 1 Chronicles 29:14; Isaiah 64:6; 1 Corinthians 15:10
- 40 Proverbs 19:17; Proverbs 14:31; Matthew 10:42; Mark 9:41; 1 Peter 1:22
- 41 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6–7; Matthew 13:42; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 7:23
- 42 James 2:15–24; 1 Corinthians 16:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; John 5:23; Matthew 12:30
- 44 Luke 10:29; Matthew 7:22; Matthew 25:24–27; Malachi 3:13; Malachi 1:6
- 45 Proverbs 21:13; Proverbs 17:5; Matthew 25:40; Proverbs 14:31; Acts 9:5
- 46 Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; John 3:36; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 20:15
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Ye who were present yesterday remember my promise; which with the Lord's assistance is to be made good to-day, not to you only, but to the many others also who have come together. It is no easy question, who the ten virgins are, of whom five are wise, and five foolish.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
"Then shall the kingdom of Heaven," He saith, "be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. But five of them were wise, and the other five foolish, which took not," He saith, "oil." "Then, while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
And besides; "the eternal fire which the Father has prepared for the devil and his angels," -- they ought to show of which of those Æons that are above it is the image; for it, too, is reckoned part of the creation.
For the truth in the gospel promises to the saints and the faithful that they will be equal to the angels of God; and it is also promised them that they will "go away into life eternal." But if we are certain that we shall never lapse from eternal felicity, while they are not certain, then we shall not be …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
For it will be no longer, "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return," and thou "tillest the ground," and those former words, that will be said to us; but what is far more grievous than these, the "outer darkness," the bonds that may not be burst, the venomous worm, the "gnashing of teeth;" and this with great reason.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)