13 And when they knew that much of all the wealth that they were left to guard had been purloined, they said, 14 We cannot be to blame; if we had known the day and hour when our lord would come again we would have guarded well his wealth, and suffered not the thieves to carry it away; he surely is at fault because he told us not. 15 But after many days the lord returned, and when he knew that thieves had robbed him of his wealth, he called his servants and he said to them, 16 Because you have neglected what was given you to do, have spent your time in revelings and sleep, behold you all are debtors unto me. 17 What I have lost by your neglect, you owe to me. And then he gave them heavy tasks to do, and bound them to their posts with chains, where they remained till they had paid for all the goods their lord had lost through their neglect. 18 Another man locked up his wealth and went to sleep, and in the night time robbers came, unlocked his doors, and when they saw no guard, they entered in and carried off his wealth. 19 And when the man awoke and found his doors ajar and all his treasures gone, he said, If I had known the hour when the thieves would come I would have been on guard. 20 Beware, my friends, beware! and be prepared at every hour, and if your Lord shall come at midnight or at dawn, it matters not, for he will find you ready to receive. 21 And then, behold, a marriage was announced, and virgins, ten of them, were set apart to meet the bridegroom when he came. 22 The virgins clothed themselves in proper garbs, and took their lamps and sat in waiting for the watch to say, Behold, the bridegroom comes! 23 Now, five were wise; they filled their lamps with oil; and five were foolish, for they carried empty lamps. 24 The groom came not at the expected time; the virgins were a-weary with their watch and slept. 25 At midnight came the cry, Behold, the bridegroom comes! 26 The virgins rose; the wise ones quickly trimmed their lamps and went forth ready to receive the groom. 27 The foolish virgins said, We have no oil, our lamps burn not. 28 They sought to borrow from the wise, who said, We have no oil to spare; Go to the merchantmen and buy and fill your lamps and then come forth to meet the groom. 29 But while they went to purchase oil, the bridegroom came; the virgins who were ready with their lamps all trimmed went with him to the marriage feast. 30 And when the foolish virgins came the door was shut, and though they knocked and called aloud, the door was opened not. 31 The master of the feast exclaimed, I know you not! and in disgrace the virgins went their way. 32 Again I say to you, and you shall say to them who follow you, 33 Be ready every moment of the day and night, because when you expect him not, the Lord will come.