Matthew 25
English Standard Version
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
The Parable of the Talents
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The Final Judgment
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, 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?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Job 31
English Standard Version
Job's Final Appeal
31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?2 What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?4 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps?
5 “If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)7 if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,8 then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me be rooted out.
9 “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase.
13 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?
16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it18 (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow),19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,20 if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty.
24 “If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,26 if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.
29 “If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),31 if the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?’32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my heart,34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.
38 “If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,39 if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.
Proverbs 14
English Standard Version
14 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.5 A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.7 Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.9 Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.14 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.16 One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.19 The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.22 Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.28 In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.32 The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.33 Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.35 A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
Jeremiah 46
English Standard Version
Judgment on Egypt
46 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.
2 About Egypt. Concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:
3 “Prepare buckler and shield, and advance for battle!4 Harness the horses; mount, O horsemen!Take your stations with your helmets, polish your spears, put on your armor!5 Why have I seen it?They are dismayed and have turned backward.Their warriors are beaten down and have fled in haste;they look not back— terror on every side!declares the Lord.
6 “The swift cannot flee away, nor the warrior escape;in the north by the river Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen.
7 “Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge?8 Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge.He said, ‘I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.’9 Advance, O horses, and rage, O chariots!Let the warriors go out: men of Cush and Put who handle the shield, men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow.10 That day is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes.The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood.For the Lord God of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.11 Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt!In vain you have used many medicines; there is no healing for you.12 The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry;for warrior has stumbled against warrior; they have both fallen together.”
13 The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:
14 “Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol; proclaim in Memphis and Tahpanhes;say, ‘Stand ready and be prepared, for the sword shall devour around you.’15 Why are your mighty ones face down? They do not stand because the Lord thrust them down.16 He made many stumble, and they fell, and they said one to another,‘Arise, and let us go back to our own people and to the land of our birth, because of the sword of the oppressor.’17 Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ‘Noisy one who lets the hour go by.’
18 “As I live, declares the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts,like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea, shall one come.19 Prepare yourselves baggage for exile, O inhabitants of Egypt!For Memphis shall become a waste, a ruin, without inhabitant.
20 “A beautiful heifer is Egypt, but a biting fly from the north has come upon her.21 Even her hired soldiers in her midst are like fattened calves;yes, they have turned and fled together; they did not stand,for the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their punishment.
22 “She makes a sound like a serpent gliding away; for her enemies march in forceand come against her with axes like those who fell trees.23 They shall cut down her forest,declares the Lord, though it is impenetrable,because they are more numerous than locusts; they are without number.24 The daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame; she shall be delivered into the hand of a people from the north.”
25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, said: “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. 26 I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Afterward Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old, declares the Lord.
27 “But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel,for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity.Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid.28 Fear not, O Jacob my servant,declares the Lord, for I am with you.I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end.I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”