Continuing his Sermon, he bringeth two parables, of ten Virgins, and of Talents, to shew how it shall be in Doom's day with the Faithful that prepare, and that prepare not themselves. 31. Then also without parables he sheweth that such Faithful as do works of mercy, shall have for them life everlasting: and such as do not, everlasting damnation.Continuing his Sermon, he bringeth two parables, of ten Virgins, and of Talents, to shew how it shal be in Domes day with the Faithful that prepare, and that prepare not them selues. 31. Then also without parables he sheweth that such Faithful as doe workes of mercy, shal haue for them life euerlasting: and such as doe not, euerlasting damnation.
Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be like to ten Virgins, which taking their lamps went forth to meet the Bridegroom and the Bride.THEN shal the Kingdom of Heauen be like to ten Virgins, which taking their lamps went forth to meet the Bridegrome and the Bride.Tunc simile erit regnum cælorum decem virginibus : quæ accipientes lampades suas exierunt obviam sponso et sponsæ.
2And five of them were foolish, and five wise.And fiue of them were foolish, and fiue wise.Quinque autem ex eis erant fatuæ, et quinque prudentes :
3But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them:But the fiue foolish, hauing taken their lamps, did not take oile with them:sed quinque fatuæ, acceptis lampadibus, non sumpserunt oleum secum :
4but the wise did take oil in their vessels with the lamps.but the wise did take oile in their vessels with the lamps.prudentes vero acceperunt oleum in vasis suis cum lampadibus.
5And the Bridegroom tarrying long, they slumbered all and slept.And the Bridegrome tarying long, they slumbered al and slept.Moram autem faciente sponso, dormitaverunt omnes et dormierunt.
6And at midnight there was a clamour made: Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him.And at midnight there was a clamour made: Behold the Bridegrome commeth, goe ye forth to meet him.Media autem nocte clamor factus est : Ecce sponsus venit, exite obviam ei.
7Then arose all those Virgins, and they trimmed their lamps.Then arose al those Virgins, and they trimmed their lamps.Tunc surrexerunt omnes virgines illæ, et ornaverunt lampades suas.
8And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, because our lamps are going out.And the foolish said to the wise: Giue vs of your oile, because our lamps are going out.Fatuæ autem sapientibus dixerunt : Date nobis de oleo vestro, quia lampades nostræ extinguuntur.
9The wise answered, saying: Lest forte: perhaps, by chance there suffice not for us and you, go rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.The wise answered, saying: Lest peraduenture there suffice not for vs and you, goe rather to them that sel, and buy for your selues.Responderunt prudentes, dicentes : Ne forte non sufficiat nobis, et vobis, ite potius ad vendentes, et emite vobis.
10And whiles they went to buy, the Bridegroom was come: and they that were ready, entered with him to the marriage, and the gate was shut.And whiles they went to buy, the Bridegrome was come: and they that were ready, entred with him to the mariage, and the gate was shut.Dum autem irent emere, venit sponsus : et quæ paratæ erant, intraverunt cum eo ad nuptias, et clausa est janua.
11But last of all came also the other Virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us.But last of al come also the other Virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to vs.Novissime vero veniunt et reliquæ virgines, dicentes : Domine, domine, aperi nobis.
12But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not.But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not.At ille respondens, ait : Amen dico vobis, nescio vos.
13Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.Watch ye therfore, because you know not the day nor the houre. ¶Vigilate itaque, quia nescitis diem, neque horam.
14For even as a man going into a strange country, called his servants, and delivered them his goods.For euen as a man going into a strange countrie, called his seruants, and deliuered them his goods.Sicut enim homo peregre proficiscens, vocavit servos suos, et tradidit illis bona sua.
15And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his propriam: fitting, correct virtutem: mental aptitude; a teaching staff: and immediately he took his journey.And to one he gaue fiue talents, and to an other two, and to an other one, to euery one according to his proper facultie: and immediatly he tooke his iourney.Et uni dedit quinque talenta, alii autem duo, alii vero unum, unicuique secundum propriam virtutem : et profectus est statim.
16And he that had received the five talents, went his way, and operatus est: was busy with, took up with the same, and gained other five.And he that had receaued the fiue talents, went his way, and occupied with the same, and gained other fiue.Abiit autem qui quinque talenta acceperat, et operatus est in eis, et lucratus est alia quinque.
17Likewise also he that had received the two, gained other two.Likewise also he that had receaued the two, gained other two.Similiter et qui duo acceperat, lucratus est alia duo.
18But he that had received the one, going his way digged into the earth, and hid his Lord's money.But he that had receaued the one, going his way digged into the earth, and hid his Lords money.Qui autem unum acceperat, abiens fodit in terram, et abscondit pecuniam domini sui.
19But after much time the Lord of those servants cometh, and made account with them.But after much time the Lord of those seruants commeth, & made acount with them.Post multum vero temporis venit dominus servorum illorum, et posuit rationem cum eis.
20And there came he that had received the five talents, and offered other five talents, saying: Lord, five talents thou didst deliver me, behold I have gained other five besides.And there came he that had receaued the fiue talents, & offred other fiue talents, saying: Lord, fiue talents thou didst deliuer me, behold I haue gained other fiue besides.Et accedens qui quinque talenta acceperat, obtulit alia quinque talenta, dicens : Domine, quinque talenta tradidisti mihi, ecce alia quinque superlucratus sum.
21His Lord said unto him: Well-fare Euge: well done; may it go well with thee good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things I will place thee over many things: enter into the joy of thy Lord.His Lord said vnto him: Wel-fare thee good & faithful seruant, because thou hast been faithful ouer a few things I wil place thee ouer many things: enter into the ioy of thy Lord.Ait illi dominus ejus : Euge serve bone, et fidelis : quia super pauca fuisti fidelis, super multa te constituam ; intra in gaudium domini tui.
22And there came also he that had received the two talents, and said: Lord, two talents thou didst deliver me: behold I have gained other two.And there came also he that had receaued the two talents, & said: Lord, two talents thou didst deliuer me: behold I haue gained other two.Accessit autem et qui duo talenta acceperat, et ait : Domine, duo talenta tradidisti mihi, ecce alia duo lucratus sum.
23His Lord said to him: Well-fare thee good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things, enter into the joy of thy Lord.His Lord said to him: Wel-fare thee good & faithful seruant: because thou hast been faithful ouer a few things, I wil place thee ouer many things, enter into the ioy of thy Lord. ¶Ait illi dominus ejus : Euge serve bone, et fidelis : quia super pauca fuisti fidelis, super multa te constituam ; intra in gaudium domini tui.
24And he also that had received the one talent, came forth, and said: Lord, I know that thou art a hard man; thou reapest where thou didst not sow, and gatherest where thou sparsisti: scattered, winnowed not:And he also that had receaued the one talent, came forth, and said: Lord, I know that thou art a hard man; thou reapest where thou didst not sow, and gatherest where thou strawed not:Accedens autem et qui unum talentum acceperat, ait : Domine, scio quia homo durus es ; metis ubi non seminasti, et congregas ubi non sparsisti :
25and being afraid I went, and hid thy talent in the earth: behold here thou hast that which thine is.and being afraid I went, and hid thy talent in the earth: behold here thou hast that which thine is.et timens abii, et abscondi talentum tuum in terra : ecce habes quod tuum est.
26And his Lord answering, said to him: male: mildly mischievous, playful and slothful servant, thou didst know that I reap where I sow not, and gather where I strawed not:And his Lord answering, said to him: Naughtie and slouthful seruant, thou didst know that I reape where I sow not, & gather where I strawed not:Respondens autem dominus ejus, dixit ei : Serve male, et piger, sciebas quia meto ubi non semino, et congrego ubi non sparsi :
27thou oughtest therefore to have committed my money to the bankers, and coming I might have received mine own with usura: extortionate lending at interest.thou oughtest therfore to haue committed my money to the bankers, and comming I might haue receaued mine owne with vsurie.oportuit ergo te committere pecuniam meam numulariis, et veniens ego recepissem utique quod meum est cum usura.
28Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it him that hath ten talents.Take ye away therfore the talent from him, and giue it him that hath ten talents.Tollite itaque ab eo talentum, et date ei qui habet decem talenta :
29For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have, shall be taken away from him.For to euery one that hath shal be giuen, and he shal abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to haue, shal be taken away from him.omni enim habenti dabitur, et abundabit : ei autem qui non habet, et quod videtur habere, auferetur ab eo.
30And the unprofitable servant cast ye out into the exteriores: complete, absolute, sheer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.And the vnprofitable seruant cast ye out into the vtter darkenes. There shal be weeping and gnashing of teeth.Et inutilem servum ejicite in tenebras exteriores : illic erit fletus, et stridor dentium.
31And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the Angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty:And when the Sonne of man shal come in his maiestie, and al the Angels with him, then shal he sit vpon the seat of his maiestie:Cum autem venerit Filius hominis in majestate sua, et omnes angeli cum eo, tunc sedebit super sedem majestatis suæ :
32and all Nations shall be gathered together before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as the pastor separateth the sheep from the goats:and al Nations shal be gathered togeather before him, and he shal separate them one from an other, as the pastor separateth the sheep from the goats:et congregabuntur ante eum omnes gentes, et separabit eos ab invicem, sicut pastor segregat oves ab hædis :
33and shall set the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at his left.and shal set the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at his left.et statuet oves quidem a dextris suis, hædos autem a sinistris.
34Then shall the King say to them that shall be at his right hand: Come ye Blessed of my Father, possess you the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.Then shal the King say to them that shal be at his right hand: Come ye Blessed of my Father, possesse you the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.Tunc dicet rex his qui a dextris ejus erunt : Venite benedicti Patris mei, possidete paratum vobis regnum a constitutione mundi :
35For I was an esurivi: hungry, famished, and you gave me to eat: I was athirst, and you gave me to drink.For I was an hungred, and you gaue me to eate: I was a thirst, and you gaue me to drinke.esurivi enim, et dedistis mihi manducare : sitivi, et dedistis mihi bibere : hospes eram, et collegistis me :
36I was a stranger, and you took me in: naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.I was a stranger, and you tooke me in: naked, and you couered me: sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.nudus, et cooperuistis me : infirmus, et visitastis me : in carcere eram, et venistis ad me.
37Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee an hungred, and fed thee: athirst, and gave thee drink?Then shal the iust answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee an hungred, and fed thee: a thirst, and gaue thee drinke?Tunc respondebunt ei justi, dicentes : Domine, quando te vidimus esurientem, et pavimus te : sitientem, et dedimus tibi potum ?
38and when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and covered thee?and when did we see thee a stranger, and tooke thee in? or naked, and couered thee?quando autem te vidimus hospitem, et collegimus te : aut nudum, et cooperuimus te ?
39or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee?or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee?aut quando te vidimus infirmum, aut in carcere, et venimus ad te ?
40And the King answering, 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.And the King answering, shal 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.Et respondens rex, dicet illis : Amen dico vobis, quamdiu fecistis uni ex his fratribus meis minimis, mihi fecistis.
41Then he shall say to them also that shall be at his left hand: Get ye away from me you cursed into fire everlasting, which was prepared for the Devil and his Angels.Then he shal say to them also that shal be at his left hand: Get ye away from me you cursed into fire euerlasting, which was prepared for the Diuel and his Angels.Tunc dicet et his qui a sinistris erunt : Discedite a me maledicti in ignem æternum, qui paratus est diabolo, et angelis ejus :
42For I was an hungred, and you gave me not to eat: I was athirst, and you gave me not to drink.For I was an hungred, & you gaue me not to eate: I was a thirst, & you gaue me not to drinke.esurivi enim, et non dedistis mihi manducare : sitivi, et non dedistis mihi potum :
43I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you covered me not: sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.I was a stranger, and you tooke me not in: naked, and you couered me not: sick, & in prison, and you did not visit me.hospes eram, et non collegistis me : nudus, et non cooperuistis me : infirmus, et in carcere, et non visitastis me.
44Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee?Then they also shal answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee an hungred, or a thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, & did not minister to thee?Tunc respondebunt ei et ipsi, dicentes : Domine, quando te vidimus esurientem, aut sitientem, aut hospitem, aut nudum, aut infirmum, aut in carcere, et non ministravimus tibi ?
45Then he shall answer 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.Then he shal answer 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.Tunc respondebit illis, dicens : Amen dico vobis : Quamdiu non fecistis uni de minoribus his, nec mihi fecistis.
46And these shall go into punishment everlasting: but the just, into life everlasting.And these shal goe into punishment euerlasting: but the iust, into life euerlasting.Et ibunt hi in supplicium æternum : justi autem in vitam æternam.
Annotations
1Virgins. These Virgins five wise, and five foolish, signify that in the Church mingled be good and bad: which bad shall be shut out at the later day, although they have lamps (that is faith) as the other, because their lamps are out, that is, their faith is dead without charity and good works to lighten them. Greg. ho. 12.
1Lamps. These lamps lighted, be good works, namely of mercy, and the laudable conversation which shineth before men. Aug. ep. 120. c. 13.
3Oil. This oil is the right inward intention directing our works to God's glory, and not to the praise of ourselves in the sight of men. Aug. ep. 120. c. 33.
27With usury. Usury is here taken for the lawful gain that a man getteth by well employing his goods. When God giveth us any talent or talents, he looketh for usury, that is, for spiritual increase of the same by our diligence and industry.
29That which he seemeth to have. He is said to have God's gifts, that useth them, and to such an one God will increase his gifts. He that useth them not, seemeth to have, rather than hath them, and from him God will withdraw that which before he gave.
31Separate. Lo here is the Separation, for in the Church in this life they lived both together. As for Heretics, they went out of the Church before, and separated themselves, and therefore are not to be separated here, as being judged already.
34Come ye etc. 41. Get ye away. It is no incongruity that God should say: Go into everlasting fire, to them that by their free will have repelled his mercy; and to the other: Come ye Blessed of my Father, take the Kingdom prepared for you, that by their free will have received faith, and confessed their sins, and done penance. Aug. li. 2. act. cum Fel. Manich. c. 8.
35You gave me. Hereby we see how much alms-deeds and all works of mercy prevail towards life everlasting, and to blot out former sins. Aug. in Ps. 49.
42Gave me not. He chargeth them not here that they believed not, but that they did not good works. For such did believe, but they cared not for good works, as though by dead faith they might have come to Heaven. Aug. de fid. and oper. c. 15. and ad Iulic. q. 4. and 6.