. Watch
therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.

"But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what
watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have
suffered his house to be broken through. Therefore be ye also ready;
for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.

"Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. It is
as when a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house,
and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded
also the porter to watch. Watch therefore: for ye know not when the
lord of the house cometh, whether at even, or at midnight, or at
cockcrowing, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly he find you
sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the lord hath set
over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is
that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily
I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath. But if
that evil servant shall say in his heart, 'My lord tarrieth;' and
shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and shall eat and drink with
the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he
expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him
asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be
the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."

THREE LESSONS TO THE DISCIPLES.

THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS.

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who
took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of
them were foolish, and five were wise. For the foolish, when they took
their lamps, took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their
vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all
slumbered and slept. But at midnight there is a cry, 'Behold, the
bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.' Then all those virgins arose,
and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, 'Give us
of your oil; for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered,
saying, 'Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye
rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.'

"And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that
were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was
shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, 'Lord, Lord