Section 43

1“You shall be like the wise virgins who kept watch and did not sleep but went out to the lord and entered the bridal chamber. But the foolish virgins were unable to keep watch and fell asleep.”

2We said to him, “Lord, who are the wise, and who are the foolish?”

3He said to us, “Five are wise and five are foolish, for they are those of whom the prophet spoke: ‘They are sons of God.’ Now hear their names.”

4But we wept and were troubled for those who had fallen asleep.

5He said to us, “The five wise are Faith, Love, Grace, Peace, and Hope. Those among the faithful who possess these shall guide those who have believed in me and in him who sent me. For I am the Lord, and I am the bridegroom whom they received. They have entered the bridegroom’s house and recline with me in the bridal chamber, rejoicing.

6“But when the five foolish had slept and awakened, they came to the door of the bridal chamber and knocked, for the doors were shut. Then they wept and lamented because no one opened to them.”

7We said to him, “Lord, did their wise sisters inside the bridegroom’s house continue without opening to them? Did they not grieve for them or entreat the bridegroom to open to them?”

8He answered us, “They were not yet able to obtain favor for them.”

9We said to him, “Lord, on what day shall they enter for their sisters’ sake?”

10Then he said to us, “Whoever is shut out is shut out.”

11We said to him, “Lord, is this word settled? Who, then, are the foolish?”

12He said to us, “Hear their names. They are Knowledge, Understanding, Obedience, Patience, and Compassion. These are the ones that slept in those who believed and confessed me but did not fulfill my commandments.”