Matthew
Chapter 25
1 1 ＂Then 2 the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
那时，天国好比十个童女，拿着自己的灯，出去迎接新郎。
2 3 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
她们中五个是糊涂的，五个是明智的。
3 The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them,
糊涂的拿了灯，却没有随身带油；
4 but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
而明智的拿了灯，并且在壶里带了油。
5 Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
因为新郎迟延，她们都打盹睡着了。
6 At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
半夜有人喊说：新郎来了，你们出来迎接吧！
7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
那些童女遂都起来，装备她们的灯。
8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
胡涂的对明智的说：把你们的油，分些给我们吧！因为我们的灯快要灭了！
9 But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'
明智的答说：怕为我们和你们都不够，更好你们到卖油的那里去，为自己买吧！
10 While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked.
她们去买的时候，新郎到了，那准备好了的，就同他进去，共赴婚宴；门遂关上了。
11 4 Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!'
末后，其余的童女也来了，说：主啊！主啊！给我们开门吧！
12 But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.'
他却答说：我实在告诉你们：我不认识你们。
13 Therefore, stay awake, 5 for you know neither the day nor the hour.
所以，你们该醒寤，因为你们不知道那日子，也不知道那时辰。
14 6 ＂It will be as when a man who was going on a journey 7 called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
天国又如一个要远行的人，将自己的仆人叫来，把财产托付给他们：
15 To one he gave five talents; 8 to another, two; to a third, one--to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately
按照他们的才能，一个给了五个“塔冷通”，一个给了二个，一个给了一个；然后动身走了。
16 the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five.
那领了五个“塔冷通”的，立刻去用来营业，另外赚了五个。
17 Likewise, the one who received two made another two.
同样，那领了两个的，也赚了另外两个。
18 9 But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money.
但是，那领了一个的，却去掘开地，把主人的银子藏了。
19 After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.
过了多时，仆人的主人回来了，便与他们算账。
20 The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. 10 He said,‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.'
那领了五个“塔冷通”的上前来，呈上另外五个“塔冷通”说：主啊！你曾交给我五个“塔冷通”，看，我赚了另外五个“塔冷通”。
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'
主人对他说：好！善良忠信的仆人，你既在少许事上忠信，我必委派你管理许多大事：进入你主人的福乐吧！
22 (Then) the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.'
那领了二个“塔冷通”的也前来说：主啊！你曾交给我两个“塔冷通”，看！我赚了另外两个“塔冷通”。
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'
主人对他说：好！善良忠信的仆人，你既在少许事上忠信，我必委派你管理许多大事：进入你主人的福乐吧！
24 Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter;
随后，那领了一个“塔冷通”的也前来说：主啊！我原知道你是个刻薄的人，在你没有下种的地方收割，在你没有散布的地方聚敛。
25 so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.'
因为我害怕，所以我去把你的“塔冷通”藏在地下；看！你的仍还给你。
26 His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! 11 So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter?
主人回答说：可恶懒惰的仆人！你既知道：我在没有下种的地方收割，在没有散布的地方聚敛；
27 Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
那么，你就该把我的银子，交给钱庄里的人，待我回来时，把我的连本带利取回。
28 Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.
所以，你们把这个“塔冷通”从他手中夺过来，给那有了十个“塔冷通”的，
29 12 For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
因为凡是有的，还要给他，叫他富裕；那没有的，连他所有的，也要由他手中夺去。
30 13 And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'
至于这无用的仆人，你们把他丢在外面的黑暗中，在那里必有哀号和切齿。”
31 14 ＂When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne,
当人子在自己的光荣中，与众天使一同降来时，那时，他要坐在光荣的宝座上，
32 and all the nations 15 will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
一切的民族，都要聚在他面前；他要把他们彼此分开，如同牧人分开绵羊和山羊一样：
33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
把绵羊放在自己的右边，山羊在左边。
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.
那时，君王要对那些在他右边的说：我父所祝福的，你们来吧！承受自创世以来，给你们预备了的国度吧！
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,
因为我饿了，你们给了我吃的；我渴了，你们给了我喝的；我作客，你们收留了我；
36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'
我赤身露体，你们给了我穿的；我患病，你们看顾了我；我在监里，你们来探望了我。
37 Then the righteous 16 will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
那时，义人回答他说：主啊！我们什么时候见了你饥饿而供养了你，或口渴而给了你喝的?
38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
我们什么时候见了你作客，而收留了你，或赤身露体而给了你穿的?
39 When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'
我们什么时候见你患病，或在监里而来探望过你?
40 And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'
君王便回答他门说：我实在告诉你们：凡你们对我这些最小兄弟中的
41 17 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
一个所做的，就是对我做的。
然后他又对那些在他左边的说：可咒骂的，离开我，到那给魔鬼和他的使者预备的永火里去吧！
42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
因为我饿了，你们没有给我吃的；我渴了，你们没有给我喝的；
43 a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'
我作客，你们没有收留我；我赤身露身，你们没有给我穿的；我患病或在监里，你们没有来探望我。
44 18 Then they will answer and say,‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?'
那时，他们也要回答说：主啊！我们几时见了你饥饿，或口渴，或作客，或赤身露体，或有病，或坐监，而我们没有给你效劳?
45 He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'
那时君王回答他们说：我实在告诉你们：凡你们没有给这些最小中的一个做的，便是没有给我做。
46 And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.＂
这些人要进入永罚，而那些义人却要进入永生。”
Footnotes（注解）
1 [1-13] Peculiar to Matthew.
2 [1] Then: at the time of the parousia. Kingdom . . . will be like: see the note on Matthew 13:24-30.
3 [2-4] Foolish . . . wise: cf the contrasted ＂wise man＂ and ＂fool＂ of Matthew 7:24, 26 where the two are distinguished by good deeds and lack of them, and such deeds may be signified by the oil of this parable.
4 [11-12] Lord, Lord: cf Matthew 7:21. I do not know you: cf Matthew 7:23 where the Greek verb is different but synonymous.
5 [13] Stay awake: some scholars see this command as an addition to the original parable of Matthew's traditional material, since in Matthew 25:5 all the virgins, wise and foolish, fall asleep. But the wise virgins are adequately equipped for their task, and stay awake may mean no more than to be prepared; cf Matthew 24:42, 44.
6 [14-30] Cf Luke 19:12-27.
7 [14] It will be as when . . . journey: literally, ＂For just as a man who was going on a journey.＂ Although the comparison is not completed, the sense is clear; the kingdom of heaven is like the situation here described. Faithful use of one's gifts will lead to participation in the fullness of the kingdom, lazy inactivity to exclusion from it.
8 [15] Talents: see the note on Matthew 18:24.
9 [18] Buried his master's money: see the note on Matthew 13:44.
10 [20-23] Although the first two servants have received and doubled large sums, their faithful trading is regarded by the master as fidelity in small matters only, compared with the great responsibilities now to be given to them. The latter are unspecified. Share your master's joy: probably the joy of the banquet of the kingdom; cf Matthew 8:11.
11 [26-28] Wicked, lazy servant: this man's inactivity is not negligible but seriously culpable. As punishment, he loses the gift he had received, that is now given to the first servant, whose possessions are already great.
12 [29] See the note on Matthew 13:12 where there is a similar application of this maxim.
13 [30] See the note on Matthew 8:11-12.
14 [31-46] The conclusion of the discourse, which is peculiar to Matthew, portrays the final judgment that will accompany the parousia. Although often called a ＂parable,＂ it is not really such, for the only parabolic elements are the depiction of the Son of Man as a shepherd and of the righteous and the wicked as sheep and goats respectively (Matthew 25:32-33). The criterion of judgment will be the deeds of mercy that have been done for the least of Jesus' brothers (Matthew 25:40). A difficult and important question is the identification of these least brothers. Are they all people who have suffered hunger, thirst, etc. (Matthew 25:35, 36) or a particular group of such sufferers? Scholars are divided in their response and arguments can be made for either side. But leaving aside the problem of what the traditional material that Matthew edited may have meant, it seems that a stronger case can be made for the view that in the evangelist's sense the sufferers are Christians, probably Christian missionaries whose sufferings were brought upon them by their preaching of the gospel. The criterion of judgment for all the nations is their treatment of those who have borne to the world the message of Jesus, and this means ultimately their acceptance or rejection of Jesus himself; cf Matthew 10:40, ＂Who, ev, er receives you, receives me.＂
See the note on Matthew 16:27.
15 [32] All the nations: before the end the gospel will have been preached throughout the world (Matthew 24:14); thus the Gentiles will be judged on their response to it. But the phrase all the nations includes the Jews also, for at the judgment ＂the Son of Man . . . will repay everyone according to his conduct＂ (Matthew 16:27).
16 [37-40] The righteous will be astonished that in caring for the needs of the sufferers they were ministering to the Lord himself. One of these least brothers of mine: cf Matthew 10:42.
17 [41] Fire prepared . . . his angels: cf 1 Enoch 10, 13 where it is said of the evil angels and Semyaza, their leader, ＂In those days they will lead them into the bottom of the fire--and in torment--in the prison (where) they will be locked up forever.＂
18 [44-45] The accursed (Matthew 25:41) will be likewise astonished that their neglect of the sufferers was neglect of the Lord and will receive from him a similar answer.