d known in
what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not
have suffered his house to be broken through. (44)Therefore be ye also
ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man comes.

(45)Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord set over
his household, to give them their food in due season? (46)Happy that
servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing! (47)Verily I
say to you, that he will set him over all his goods. (48)But if that
evil servant shall say in his heart: My lord delays his coming;
(49)and shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and shall eat and
drink with the drunken; (50)the lord of that servant will come in a
day when he looks not for it, and in an hour when he is not aware;
(51)and will cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the
hypocrites. There will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth!

XXV.

THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took
their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2)And five of them
were wise, and five foolish. (3)The foolish, taking their lamps, took
no oil with them; (4)but the wise took oil in their vessels with their
lamps. (5)While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
(6)And at midnight a cry was made: Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to
meet him. (7)Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
(8)And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our
lamps are going out. (9)But the wise answered, saying: Not so; there
will not be enough for us and you. Go rather to those who sell, and
buy for yourselves. (10)And while they went to buy, the bridegroom
came; and they who were ready went in with him to the marriage; and
the door was shut. (11)And afterward come also the rest of the
virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us. (12)But he answering said:
Verily I say to you, I know you not.

(13)Watch, therefore; because ye know not the day, nor the hour!

(14)For as a man going abroad called his own servants, and delivered
to them his goods; (15)and to one gave five talents, to another two,
and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and
straightway went abroad. (16)And he that received the five talents
went and traded with them, and gained other five talents. (17)Likewise
also he that received the two gained other two. (18)But he that
received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's
money. (19)After a l