Story About Ten Girls

25 ¹"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten girls that went to wait for the bridegroom.* They brought their lamps with them. ²Five of the girls were foolish. And five of the girls were wise. ³The five foolish girls brought their lamps, but they did not bring more oil for the lamps to burn. ⁴The wise girls brought their lamps and more oil in jars. ⁵The bridegroom was very late. All the girls became tired and began sleeping. ⁶"At midnight someone announced, 'The bridegroom* is coming! Come and meet him!' ⁷"Then all the girls woke up. The girls made their lamps ready. ⁸But the foolish girls said to the wise girls, 'Give us some of your oil. The oil in our lamps is all gone.' ⁹"The wise girls answered, 'No! The oil we have might not be enough for all of us. But go to the people that sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' ¹⁰"So the five foolish girls went to buy oil. While they were gone, the bridegroom* came. The girls that were ready went in with the bridegroom to the wedding feast. Then the door was closed and locked. ¹¹"Later the other girls came. The girls said, 'Sir, sir, open the door to let us in.' ¹²"But the bridegroom answered, 'I tell you the truth. I don't know you.' ¹³"So always be ready. You don't know the day or the time [when the Son of Man* will come].

bridegroom A man that is getting married. Son of Man A name Jesus used for himself. In Dan. 7:13-14, this is the name for the Messiah, the one God chose to save his people.