444-445 : The Wise and the foolish Bridesmaids
"THUS the kingdom of heaven shall be like ten bridesmaids who took
their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were wise and five were foolish.
"They that were foolish took their lamps but took no oil with them.
The wise ones took oil in vessels with their lamps.
"As the bridegroom was late, they all slumbered and slept.
But at midnight the cry went up, 'Behold, the bridegroom comes.
Go out to meet him.' Then all the bridesmaids rose up and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.'
But the wise answered, saying,
'We cannot, lest there should not be enough both for us and for you.
Go instead to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.'
"While they went to buy, the bridegroom came and they that were ready
went in with him to the marriage,and the door was shut.
Afterwards the other bridesmaids came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open the door to us.'
But he answered and said, 'Truly, I do not know you.'
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man comes.
THE UNPROFITABLE SERVANT
"Again the kingdom of heaven is like a man setting off for a distant
country who called together his servants and delivered to them his goods.
To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one-to each
according to his special abilities. Then he set off on his journey.
"He who received the five talents went and traded with them and made five more.
And likewise he who received two gained two more.
But he who received one went and dug in the earth and hid his lord's money.
"After a long time, the lord of those servants came home and reckoned with them.
He who had received five talents came and brought five more, saying,
'Lord, you gave me five talents. Behold, I have earned five more beside them.'
"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have
been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
Come share with your lord in his good fortune.'
Then he who had received two talents came and said,
'Lord, you gave me two talents. Behold, I have earned two more beside them.'
"His lord said to him, 'Well done,good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
Come, share with your lord his joy.'
"Then he who had received the one talent came and said,
'Lord, I knew that you are a hard man harvesting where you have not sown,
and gathering where you have not threshed.
And I was afraid, and went and hid your money in the earth. Lo, here you have
what is yours.'
"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have
been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
Come share with your lord in his good fortune.'
"Then he who had received two talents came and said,
'Lord, you gave me two talents. Behold, I have earned two more beside them.'
"His lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant !
You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not threshed.
Therefore you should have loaned out my money and then at my returning
I should have had my money back with interest.'
"Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
For to every one who has,more shall be given, and he shall have plenty.
But from him who has not, shall be taken away even that which he has.
Now cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness.
"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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