Gospel According to Matthew - Modern Literal Version

Gospel According to Matthew (MLV)

Matthew 25)

^25:1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be similar to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. ^25:2 And five of them were prudent and five were foolish. ^25:3 Those who were foolish, having taken their lamps, took no oil with them: ^25:4 but the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ^25:5 Now as the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. ^25:6 But in the middle of the night there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom is coming! Go forth to meet him. ^25:7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. ^25:8 And the foolish said to the prudent, Give us some oil from your* oil; because our lamps are going out. ^25:9 But the prudent answered, saying, No, lest it will not be enough for us and you too : but rather go to those who sell and buy for yourselves. ^25:10 And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast and the door was shut. ^25:11 Afterward the rest of the virgins also came, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. ^25:12 But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you*. ^25:13 Watch therefore, because you* do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

^25:14 For* it is as when a man, leaving the country, called his own bondservants and delivered to them his goods. ^25:15 And to one he gave five _<33>talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability; and immediately left the country. ^25:16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them and made other five talents. ^25:17 Likewise he also who received the two gained also another two. ^25:18 But he who received the one, having gone away, dug in the earth and hid his lord's silver. ^25:19 Now after a long time the lord of those bondservants comes back and settles the account with them. ^25:20 And he who received the five talents came and brought the other five talents, saying, Lord, You delivered to me five talents: behold, I have gained in addition to them another five talents.

^25:21 But his lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful bondservant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will designate you over many things; enter into the joy of your lord.

^25:22 And he also who received the two talents came and said, Lord, You delivered to me two talents: behold, I have gained in addition to them another two talents.

^25:23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful bondservant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will designate you over many things; enter into the joy of your lord.

^25:24 And he also who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter; ^25:25 and I was afraid and went away and hid your talent in the earth: behold, you have your own.

^25:26 But his lord answered and said to him, You evil and slothful bondservant, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter; ^25:27 therefore you ought to have put my silver with the bankers and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. ^25:28 Therefore you* take away the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. ^25:29 For* to everyone who has more will be given and he will have abundance: but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ^25:30 And cast out the useless bondservant into the outer darkness: the weeping and the gnashing of teeth will be there. ^25:31 But when the Son of Man will come in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory: ^25:32 and before him will be gathered all the nations and he will separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; ^25:33 and he will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. ^25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right hand, you* come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ^25:35 for* I was hungry and you* gave me food to eat; I was thirsty and you* gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you* took me in; ^25:36 naked and you* dressed me; I was sick and you* visited me; I was in prison and you* came to me.

^25:37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you? Or thirsty and gave you a drink? ^25:38 And when did we see you a stranger and took you in? Or naked and dressed you? ^25:39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and came to you?

^25:40 And the King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you* did it to one of these my brethren, even these least, you* did it to me. ^25:41 Then he will say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you* the cursed into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: ^25:42 for* I was hungry and you* did not give me to eat; I was thirsty and you* gave me no drink; ^25:43 I was a stranger and you* did not take me in; naked and you* did not dress me; sick and in prison and you* did not visit me.

^25:44 Then they also will answer him, 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?

^25:45 Then he will answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you* did it not to one of these least, you* did it not to me. ^25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.

<33> 25:15- A talent is about 58-80 pounds of silver. Equal to about a million dollars in US money today.