Matthew 25:14-46

English Standard Version

The Parable of the Talents

^14 (A)“For ^(B)it will be like a man ^(C)going on a journey, who called his servants^[a] and entrusted to them his property. ¹⁵ To one he gave five ^(D)talents,^[b] to another two, to another one, ^(E)to each according to his ability. Then he ^(F)went away. ¹⁶ He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. ¹⁷ So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. ¹⁸ But he who had received the one talent went and ^(G)dug in the ground and hid his master's money. ¹⁹ Now ^(H)after a long time the master of those servants came and ^(I)settled accounts with them. ²⁰ And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and ^(J)faithful servant.^{[c] (K)}You have been faithful over a little; ^(L)I will set you over much. Enter into ^(M)the joy of your master.’ ²² And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be ^(N)a hard man, reaping ^(O)where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, ²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, ^(P)you have what is yours.’ ²⁶ But his master answered him, ‘You ^(Q)wicked and ^(R)slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? ²⁷ Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. ^29 (S)For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And ^(T)cast ^(U)the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place ^(V)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Final Judgment

^31 (W)“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, ^(X)then he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² Before him ^(Y)will be gathered ^(Z)all the nations, and ^(AA)he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates ^(AB)the sheep from the goats. ³³ And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then ^(AC)the King will say to ^(AD)those on his right, ‘Come, you ^(AE)who are blessed by my Father, ^(AF)inherit ^(AG)the kingdom ^(AH)prepared for you ^(AI)from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ For ^(AJ)I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you ^(AK)gave me drink, ^(AL)I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ^36 (AM)I was naked and you clothed me, ^(AN)I was sick and you ^(AO)visited me, ^(AP)I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸ And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰ And ^(AQ)the King will answer them, ^(AR)‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these ^(AS)my brothers,^[d] you did it to me.’

⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ^(AT)‘Depart from me, you ^(AU)cursed, into ^(AV)the eternal fire prepared for ^(AW)the devil and his angels. ⁴² For ^(AX)I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, ⁴³ 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 visit me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, ^(AY)you did not do it to me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away ^(AZ)into eternal punishment, but the righteous ^(BA)into ^(BB)eternal life.”