1    ^noteThen shal the kingdom of heauen be like to ten09Q0551 virgins: vvhich taking their09Q0552lampes vvent forth to meete the bridegrome and the bride.

2   And fiue of them vvere foolish, and fiue vvise.

3   but the fiue foolish, hauing taken their lampes, did not take09Q0553 oile vvith them:

4   but the vvise did take oile in their vessels vvith the lampes.

5   And the bridegrome tarying long, they slumbered all and slept.

6   And at midnight there vvas a clamour made, Behold the bridegrome commeth, goe

ye forth to meete him.

7   Then arose al those virgins: and they trimmed their lampes.

8   And the foolish said to the vvise, Giue vs of ^note your oile: because our lampes are going out.

9   The vvise ansvvered, saying, Lest peraduenture there suffise not for vs and you, goe rather to them that sel: and bie for your selues.

10   And vvhiles they vvent to bie, the bridegrome vvas come: and they that vvere ready, entred vvith him to the mariage, and the gate vvas shut.

11   But last of al come also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to vs.

12   But he ansvvering said, Amen I say to you, I knovv you not.

13   Watch ye therfore, because you knovv not the day nor the houre. &cross4;

14    ^noteFor ^note euen as a man going into a strange countrie, called his seruants, and deliuered them his goods.

15   And to one he gaue fiue talents, and to an other tvvo, and to an other one, to euery one according to his propre facultie: and immediatly he tooke his iourney.

16   And he that had receiued the fiue talents, vvent his vvay, and occupied vvith the same, and gained other fiue.

17   Likevvise also he that had receiued the tvvo, gained other tvvo.

18   But he that had receiued the one, going his vvay digged into the earth, and hid his lords money.

19   But after much time the lord of those seruants commeth, and made a count vvith them.

20   And there came he that had receiued the fiue talents, and offred other fiue talents, saying, Lord fiue talents thou didst deliuer me, behold ^note I haue gained other fiue besides.

21   His lord said vnto him: Wel fare thee good and faithful seruant, because thou hast been faithful ouer a fevv things, I vvil place thee ouer many things: enter into the ioy of thy lord.

22   And there came also he that had receiued the tvvo talents, and said, Lord tvvo talents thou didst deliuer me: behold I haue gained other tvvo.

23   His lord said to him, Wel fare thee good and faithful seruant: because thou hast been faithful ouer a fevv things, I vvil place thee ouer many things, enter into the ioy of thy lord. &cross4;

24   And he also that had receiued the one talent, came forth, and said, Lord, I knovv that thou art a hard man, thou reapest vvhere thou didst not sovv: and gatherest vvhere thou stravvedst not:

25   and being afraid I vvent, and hid thy talent in the earth: behold loe here thou hast that vvhich thine is.

26   And his lord ansvvering, said to him: ^note Naughtie and sloughtful seruant, thou didst knovv that I reape vvhere

I sovv not, & gather vvhere I stravved not:

27   thou oughtest therfore to haue committed my money to the bankers, and comming I might haue receiued mine ovvne09Q0554 vvith vsurie.

28   Take ye avvay therfore the talent from him, and giue it him that hath ten talents.

29   For to ^note euery one that hath shal be giuen, and he shal abound: but from him that hath not, that also vvhich09Q0555 he seemeth to haue, shal be taken avvay from him.

30   And the vnprofitable seruant cast ye out into the vtter darknesse. There shal be vveeping and gnashing of teeth.

31    ^noteAnd vvhen the sonne of man shal come in his maiestie, and al the Angels vvith him, then shal he sitte vpon the seate of his maiestie:

32   and al nations shal be gathered together before him, and he shal09Q0556 separate them one from an other, as the pastor separateth the sheepe from the goates:

33   and shal set the sheepe at his right hand, but the goates at his left.

34   Then shal the king say to them that shal be at his right hand,09Q0557 Come ye blessed of my father, possesse you the kingdom ^note prepared for you from the foundation of the vvorld.

35   for I vvas an hungred, and09Q0558 you gaue me to eate: I vvas a thirst, and you gaue me to drinke.

36   I vvas a stranger, and you tooke me in: naked, and you couered me: sicke, and you visited me. I vvas in prison, and you came to me.

37   Then shal the iust ansvver him, saying: Lord, vvhen did vve see thee an hungred, and fed thee: a thirst, and gaue thee drinke?

38   and vvhen did vve see thee a stranger, and tooke thee in? or naked, and couered thee?

39   or vvhen did vve see thee sicke or in prison: and came to thee?

40   And the king ansvvering, shall say to them, Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.

41   Then he shal say to them also that shal be at his left hand,09Q0559 Get ye avvay from me you cursed into fire euerlasting, vvhich vvas prepared for the Deuil and his angels.

42   for I vvas an hungred, and you09Q0560 gaue me not to eate: I vvas a thirst, and you gaue me not to drinke.

43   I was a stranger, and you tooke me not in: naked, and you couered me not: sicke, and in prison, and you did not visite me.

44   Then they also shall ansvver him, saying, Lord, vvhen did vve see thee an hungred, or a thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sicke, or in prison: and did not minister to thee?

45   Then he shal ansvver them, saying, Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these lesser, neither did you it to me.

46   And these shal goe into punishment euerlasting: but the iust, into life euerlasting. &cross4;

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