GENEVA BIBLE 1599
The Bible of the Pilgrims who founded America and also the Bible of the Reformation.
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1 Then (1) the (*) kingdom of heaven shall be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and (a) went forth to (♣) meet the bridegroom.
(1) We must desire strength at God's hand, which may serve us as a torch while we walk through this darkness, to bring us to our desired end; otherwise if we become slothful and negligent as weary of our pains and travel, we shall be shut out of the doors.
(*) This similitude teacheth us, that it is not sufficient
to have once given ourselves to follow Christ, but that we
must continue.
(a) The pomp of bride-ales was wont for the most part to be
kept in the night season and that by damsels.
(♣) To do him honor, as the manner was.
2 And five of them were wise, and five foolish.
3 The foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them.
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 Now while the bridegroom tarried long, all (b) slumbered and slept.
(b) Their eyes being heavy with sleep.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, (*) Give us of your oil, for our lamps are (♣) out.
(*) Many seek that which they have contemned, but it is to late.
(♣) Or, quenched.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there will not be enough for us and you; but (*) go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
(*) This was spoken in reproach, because they made not provision in time.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready, went in with him to the wedding, and the gate was shut.
11 Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered, and said, Verily I say unto you, (*) I know you not.
(*) I will not open to you because you have failed in the middle way.
13 (*) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day, nor the hour, when the Son of man will come.
(*) Matthew 24:42; Mark 13:35 .
14 (*) (2) (♣) For the kingdom of heaven is as a man that going into a strange country, called his servants, and delivered to them his goods.
(*) Luke 19:12-13 .
(2) Christ witnesseth that there shall be a long time between his departure to his father, and his coming again to us, but yet notwithstanding that, he will at that day take an account not only of the rebellious and obstinate, how they have bestowed that which they received of him, but also of his household servants, which have not through slothfulness employed those gifts which he bestowed upon them.
(♣) This similitude teacheth how we ought to continue in the knowledge of God, and do good with those graces that God hath given us.
15 And unto one he gave five (*) talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every man after his own (c) ability, and straightway went from home.
(*) Every talent communally made threescore pounds, read Matthew 18:24 .
(c) According to the wisdom and skill in dealing, which was given them.
16 Then he that had received the five talents, went and occupied with them, and (*) gained other five talents.
(*) Or, made.
17 Likewise also he that received two, he also (*) gained other two.
(*) Or, made.
18 But he that received that one, went and dug in the earth, and hid his master’s money.
19 But after a long season, the master of those servants came, and reckoned with them.
20 Then came he that had received five talents, and brought other five talents, saying, Master, thou deliveredst unto me five talents; behold, I have gained with them other five talents.
21 Then his master said unto him, It is well done good servant and faithful, Thou hast been faithful in little, I will make thee ruler over much; (d) (*) enter into thy master’s joy.
(d) Come, and receive the fruit of goodness, now the Lord's joy is doubled, see John 15:11; that my joy may remain in you, and your joy be fulfilled.
(*) The master receiveth him into his house to give him part of his goods and commodities.
22 Also he that had received two talents, came, and said, Master, thou deliveredst unto me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents more.
23 His Master said unto him, It is well done good servant, and faithful, Thou hast been faithful in little, I will make thee ruler over much; enter into thy master’s joy.
24 Then he which had received the one talent, came, and said, Master, I knew that thou wast an hard man, which reapest where thou sowedst not, and gatherest where thou strawedst not;
25 I was therefore afraid, and went, and hid thy talent in the earth; behold, thou hast thine own.
26 And his master answered, and said unto him, Thou evil servant, and (*) slothful, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I strawed not.
(*) Or, lingerer.
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the (e) exchangers, and then at my coming should I have received mine own with vantage.
(e) Table mates which have their shop bulks or tables set abroad, where they let out money so usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 (*) For unto every man that hath, it shall be given, and he shall have abundance, and (♣) from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away.
(*) Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; Luke 19:26 .
(♣) The graces of God shall be taken away from him that doeth not bestow them to God’s glory and his neighbors profit.
30 Cast therefore that unprofitable servant into utter (*) darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(*) Matthew 8:12; Matthew 22:13 .
31 ¶ (3) And when the Son of man cometh in his glory and all the holy Angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory,
(3) A lively setting forth of the everlasting judgment which is to come.
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats.
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come ye (f) (*) blessed of my Father, inherit ye the kingdom prepared for you from the (♣) foundation of the world.
(f) Blessed and happy, upon whom my Father hath most abundantly bestowed his benefits.
(*) For our salvation cometh of the blessing and favor of God.
(♣) Hereby God declareth the certainty of our predestination, whereby we are saved because we were chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world, knowing that we would accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour beforehand, Ephesians 1:4 .
35 (*) For (♣) I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I thirsted, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in unto you;
(*) Isaiah 58:7; Ezekiel 18:7 .
(♣) Christ meaneth not that our salvation dependeth on our works or merits, but teacheth what it is to live justly according to godliness, and charity, and that God recompenseth his of his free mercy, likewise as he doeth elect them.
36 I was naked, and ye clothed me; I was (*) sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
(*) Or, infirm.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? Or a thirst, and gave thee drink?
38 And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in unto us? Or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer, and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.
41 Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, (*) Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels.
(*) Psalm 6:8; Matthew 7:23; Luke 13:27 .
42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat; I thirsted, and ye gave me no drink;
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in unto you; I was naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or a thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, and say, Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 (*) And these (♣) shall go into everlasting pain, and the righteous into life eternal.
(*) Daniel 12:2; John 5:29 .
(♣) We must therefore only do that, which God requireth of us, and not follow men’s foolish fantasies.
1 Corinthians 14:8
And also if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle?
"Let not Geneva be forgotten or despised. Religious liberty owes it most respect." John Adams, the second president of the United States