As the bridegroom was long of coming, they all grew drowsy and went to sleep.
Then he proceeded to tell the people the following parable. "A man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went abroad for some time.
But if the bad servant says to himself, 'My lord and master is long of coming,'
But if that servant says to himself, 'My lord and master is long of arriving,' and if he starts to beat the menservants and maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk,
Now a long time afterwards the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.
Keep cool, keep awake. Your enemy the devil prowls like a roaring lion, looking out for someone to devour.
Thus it is said, 'Wake up, O sleeper, and rise from the dead; so Christ will shine upon you.'
And then you know what this Crisis means, you know it is high time to waken up; for Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?"
And when he returned he found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
Then he went to the disciples and found them asleep; and he said to Peter, "So the three of you could not watch with me for a single hour?
only hold to what you have, till such time as I come.
whereas the sensible took oil in their vessels as well as their lamps.
But at midnight the cry arose, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
Now the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering that he stayed so long inside the sanctuary.