1‘Here is what the kingdom of heaven will be like at that time. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.2Five of them were foolish. Five were wise.3The foolish ones took their lamps but didn’t take any olive oil with them.4The wise ones took oil in jars along with their lamps.5The groom did not come for a long time. So the bridesmaids all grew tired and fell asleep.6‘At midnight someone cried out, “Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him!”7‘Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready.8The foolish ones said to the wise ones, “Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out.”9‘ “No”, they replied. “There may not be enough for all of us. Instead, go to those who sell oil. Buy some for yourselves.”10‘So they went to buy the oil. But while they were on their way, the groom arrived. The bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding dinner. Then the door was shut.11‘Later, the other bridesmaids also came. “Sir! Sir!” they said. “Open the door for us!”12‘But he replied, “What I’m about to tell you is true. I don’t know you.”13‘So keep watch. You do not know the day or the hour that the groom will come.
The story of three slaves
14‘Again, here is what the kingdom of heaven will be like. A man was going on a journey. He sent for his slaves and put them in charge of his money.15He gave five bags of gold to one. He gave two bags to another. And he gave one bag to the third. The man gave each slave the amount of money he knew the slave could take care of. Then he went on his journey.16The slave who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work. He earned five bags more.17The one with the two bags of gold earned two more.18But the man who had received one bag went and dug a hole in the ground. He hid his master’s money in it.19‘After a long time the master of those slaves returned. He wanted to collect all the money they had earned.20The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. “Master”, he said, “you trusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have earned five more.”21‘His master replied, “You have done well, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”22‘The man with two bags of gold also came. “Master”, he said, “you trusted me with two bags of gold. See, I have earned two more.”23‘His master replied, “You have done well, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”24‘Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. “Master”, he said, “I knew that you are a hard man. You harvest where you have not planted. You gather crops where you have not scattered seed.25So I was afraid. I went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”26‘His master replied, “You evil, lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I have not planted? You knew that I gather crops where I have not scattered seed?27Well then, you should have put my money in the bank. When I returned, I would have received it back with interest.”28‘Then his master commanded the other slaves, “Take the bag of gold from him. Give it to the one who has ten bags.29Everyone who has will be given more. They will have more than enough. And what about anyone who doesn’t have? Even what they have will be taken away from them.30Throw that worthless slave outside. There in the darkness, people will weep and grind their teeth.”
The sheep and the goats
31‘The Son of Man will come in all his glory. All the angels will come with him. Then he will sit in glory on his throne.32All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate the people into two groups. He will be like a shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats.33He will put the sheep to his right and the goats to his left.34‘Then the King will speak to those on his right. He will say, “My Father has blessed you. Come and take what is yours. It is the kingdom prepared for you since the world was created.35I was hungry. And you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty. And you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger. And you invited me in.36I needed clothes. And you gave them to me. I was ill. And you took care of me. I was in prison. And you came to visit me.”37‘Then the people who have done what is right will answer him. “Lord”, they will ask, “when did we see you hungry and feed you? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink?38When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in? When did we see you needing clothes and give them to you?39When did we see you ill or in prison and go to visit you?”40‘The King will reply, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Anything you did for one of the least important of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”41‘Then he will say to those on his left, “You are cursed! Go away from me into the fire that burns for ever. It has been prepared for the devil and his angels.42I was hungry. But you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty. But you gave me nothing to drink.43I was a stranger. But you did not invite me in. I needed clothes. But you did not give me any. I was ill and in prison. But you did not take care of me.”44‘They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and not help you? When did we see you as a stranger or needing clothes or ill or in prison and not help you?”45‘He will reply, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Anything you didn’t do for one of the least important of these, you didn’t do for me.”46‘Then they will go away to be punished for ever. But those who have done what is right will receive eternal life.’
1Тогава небесното царство ще се оприличи на десет девици, които взеха светилниците си и излязоха да посрещнат младоженеца. (Eph 5:29; Eph 5:30; Re 19:7; Re 21:2; Re 21:9)2А от тях пет бяха неразумни и пет – разумни. (Mt 13:47; Mt 22:10)3Защото неразумните, като взеха светилниците, не взеха елей със себе си.4А разумните заедно със светилниците си взеха и елей в съдовете си. (1Th 5:6)5И докато се бавеше младоженецът, дрямка обхвана всички и заспаха.6А посреднощ се нададе вик: Ето, младоженецът иде! Излизайте да го посрещнете! (Mt 24:31; 1Th 4:16)7Тогава всички онези девици станаха и приготвиха светилниците си. (Lu 12:35)8А неразумните казаха на разумните: Дайте ни от вашия елей, защото нашите светилници угасват.9А разумните отговориха: Да не би да не стигне и за нас, и за вас, по-добре идете при продавачите и си купете.10А когато те отидоха да купят, младоженецът пристигна; и готовите влязоха с него на сватбата и вратата се затвори. (Lu 13:25)11После дойдоха и другите девици и казаха: Господарю! Господарю! Отвори ни. (Mt 7:21)12А той отговори: Истина ви казвам: Не ви познавам. (Ps 5:5; Hab 1:13; Joh 9:31)13И така, бдете; защото не знаете нито деня, нито часа, в който Човешкият Син ще дойде. (Mt 24:42; Mt 24:44; Mr 13:33; Mr 13:35; Lu 21:36; 1Co 16:13; 1Th 5:6; 1Pe 5:8; Re 16:15)
Притча за талантите
14Защото ще стане, както когато един човек при тръгването си за чужбина свика своите слуги и им предаде имота си. (Mt 21:33; Lu 19:11; Lu 19:12)15На един даде пет таланта, на друг – два, на трети – един, на всеки според способността му; и тръгна. (Ro 12:6; 1Co 12:7; 1Co 12:11; 1Co 12:29; Eph 4:11)16Веднага този, който получи петте таланта, отиде и търгува с тях, и спечели още пет таланта.17Също и този, който получи двата, спечели още два.18А този, който получи единия, отиде, изкопа дупка в земята и скри парите на господаря си.19След дълго време дойде господарят на тези слуги и поиска сметка от тях.20И когато се приближи този, който беше получил петте таланта, донесе още пет таланта и каза: Господарю, ти ми даде пет таланта; ето, аз спечелих още пет.21Господарят му каза: Хубаво, ти си добър и верен слуга! Над малкото си бил верен, над многото ще те поставя. Влез в радостта на господаря си. (Isa 61:7; Mt 24:47; Lu 12:44; Lu 22:29; Lu 22:30; 2Ti 2:12; Heb 12:2; 1Pe 1:8)22Приближи се и този, който беше получил двата таланта, и каза: Господарю, ти ми даде два таланта, ето, спечелих още два таланта.23Господарят му каза: Хубаво, добър и верен слуга! Над малкото си бил верен, над многото ще те поставя. Влез в радостта на господаря си. (Mt 25:21)24Тогава се приближи този, който беше получил един талант, и каза: Господарю, аз те знаех, че си строг човек; жънеш, където не си сял, и събираш, където не си пръскал;25и като се уплаших, отидох и скрих таланта ти в земята; ето, имаш своето.26А господарят отговори: Лукав и ленив слуга! Знаел си, че жъна, където не съм сял, и събирам, където не съм пръскал.27Ти поне трябваше да внесеш парите ми при банкерите и когато си дойда, щях да взема своето с лихва.28Затова вземете от него таланта и го дайте на този, който има десет таланта.29Защото на всеки, който има, ще се даде и той ще има в изобилие; а от този, който няма, от него ще се отнеме и това, което има. (Mt 13:12; Mr 4:25; Lu 8:18; Lu 19:26; Joh 15:2)30А този безполезен слуга хвърлете в тъмнината отвън; там ще бъде плач и скърцане със зъби. (Mt 8:12; Mt 24:51)
Предстоящият съд
31А когато дойде Човешкият Син в славата Си и всички святи ангели с Него, тогава ще седне на славния Си престол. (Mt 13:49; Mt 16:27; Mt 19:28; Mr 8:38; Ac 1:11; 1Th 4:16; 2Th 1:7; Jud 1:14; Re 1:7)32И ще се съберат пред Него всички народи; и ще ги отлъчи един от друг, както овчарят отлъчва овцете от козите; (Eze 20:38; Eze 34:17; Eze 34:20; Mt 13:49; Ro 14:10; 2Co 5:10; Re 20:12)33и ще постави овцете от дясната Си страна, а козите от лявата.34Тогава Царят ще каже на тези, които са от дясната Му страна: Елате, вие, благословени от Моя Отец, наследете царството, приготвено за вас от създанието на света. (Mt 20:23; Mr 10:40; Ro 8:17; 1Co 2:9; Heb 11:16; 1Pe 1:4; 1Pe 1:9; Re 21:7)35Защото огладнях и Ме нахранихте; ожаднях и Ме напоихте; странник бях и Ме прибрахте; (Isa 58:7; Eze 18:7; Heb 13:2; Jas 1:27; 3Jo 1:5)36гол бях и Ме облякохте; болен бях и Ме посетихте; в тъмница бях и Ме споходихте. (2Ti 1:16; Jas 2:15; Jas 2:16)37Тогава праведните в отговор ще Му кажат: Господи, кога Те видяхме гладен и Те нахранихме; или жаден и Те напоихме?38И кога Те видяхме странник и Те прибрахме; или гол и Те облякохме?39И кога Те видяхме болен или в тъмница и Те посетихме?40А Царят ще им отговори: Истина ви казвам: Понеже сте направили това на един от тези най-малки Мои братя, на Мене сте го направили. (Pr 14:31; Pr 19:17; Mt 10:41; Heb 6:10)41Тогава ще каже и на тези, които са от лявата Му страна: Идете си от Мене, вие, проклети, във вечния огън, приготвен за дявола и неговите ангели. (Ps 6:8; Mt 7:23; Mt 13:40; Mt 13:42; Lu 13:27; 2Pe 2:4; Jud 1:6)42Защото огладнях и не Ме нахранихте; ожаднях и не Ме напоихте;43странник бях и не Ме прибрахте; гол бях и не Ме облякохте; болен и в тъмница бях и не Ме посетихте.44Тогава и те ще отговорят: Господи, кога Те видяхме гладен или жаден, или странник, или гол, или болен, или в тъмница и не Ти послужихме?45Тогава Той в отговор ще им каже: Истина ви казвам: Понеже не сте направили това на нито един от тези, най-малките, то и на Мене не сте го направили. (Pr 14:31; Pr 17:5; Zec 2:8; Ac 9:5)46И тези ще отидат във вечно наказание, а праведните – във вечен живот. (Da 12:2; Joh 5:29; Ro 2:7)