The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant^(A)

^35 (B)“Let your waist be girded and ^(C)your lamps burning;

Living Before God Our Father

¹³ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

¹⁴ Stand therefore, ^(A)having girded your waist with truth, ^(B)having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, ^(A)that they may see your good works and ^(B)glorify your Father in heaven.

⁴ but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵ But while the bridegroom was delayed, ^(A)they all slumbered and slept.

⁶ “And at midnight ^(B)a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom ^[a]is coming; go out to meet him!’ ⁷ Then all those virgins arose and ^(C)trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and ^(D)the door was shut.

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet ^(A)the bridegroom.

¹⁵ that you may become blameless and ^[a]harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as ^(A)lights in the world,