Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Matthew 25
Ten Bridesmaids
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids 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 oil with them. The wise ones took oil in containers along with their lamps. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a shout: ‘Look, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, ‘There may not be enough for both us and you. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ While they were going to buy it, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids also came and said, ‘Lord, lord, open for us!’ But he answered, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Therefore stay awake, because you know neither the day nor the hour.
Entrusted Talents
“It is also like a man going on a journey who called his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to ability. Then he went away. The one who received five talents went immediately, traded with them, and gained five more. In the same way, the one with two gained two more. But the one who received one went away, dug 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 one who had received five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted me with five talents. Look, I gained five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a little; I will put you over much. Enter into your master's joy.’ The one with two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. Look, I gained two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a little; I will put you over much. Enter into your master's joy.’ Then the one who had received one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. I was afraid, so I went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered, ‘Evil and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and when I returned I would have received what was mine with interest. Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and they will have abundance. But from the one who does not have, even what they have will be taken away. And throw the useless servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’
The Son of Man Judges the Nations
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people from one another the way a shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you cared for me; I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ The king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Go away from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you did not welcome me; naked and you did not clothe me; sick and in prison and you did not care for me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not serve you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”