Matthew 25, side by side

Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.

Modern

1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Classic

1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Modern

2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

Classic

2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Modern

3Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,

Classic

3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

Modern

4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Classic

4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Modern

5Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

Classic

5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Modern

6But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’

Classic

6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Modern

7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Classic

7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Modern

8The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

Classic

8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

Modern

9But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

Classic

9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

Modern

10While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.

Classic

10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Modern

11Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’

Classic

11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

Modern

12But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

Classic

12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Modern

13Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Classic

13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Modern

14“For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them.

Classic

14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

Modern

15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.

Classic

15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Modern

16Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

Classic

16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

Modern

17In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.

Classic

17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

Modern

18But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

Classic

18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

Modern

19“Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.

Classic

19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

Modern

20He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’

Classic

20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

Modern

21“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

Classic

21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Modern

22“He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’

Classic

22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

Modern

23“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

Classic

23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Modern

24“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter.

Classic

24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

Modern

25I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’

Classic

25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

Modern

26“But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter.

Classic

26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Modern

27You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.

Classic

27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Modern

28Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.

Classic

28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

Modern

29For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away.

Classic

29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Modern

30Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Classic

30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Modern

31“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.

Classic

31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Modern

32Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Classic

32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

Modern

33He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Classic

33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Modern

34Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;

Classic

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Modern

35for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.

Classic

35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Modern

36I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’

Classic

36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Modern

37“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?

Classic

37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Modern

38When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?

Classic

38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Modern

39When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’

Classic

39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

Modern

40“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Classic

40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Modern

41Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;

Classic

41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Modern

42for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;

Classic

42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

Modern

43I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

Classic

43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Modern

44“Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’

Classic

44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Modern

45“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’

Classic

45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

Modern

46These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Classic

46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Your pair of translations is remembered on this device for other chapters.