The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly ¹  when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete. ² 

When ¹  the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.’ ¹ 

Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests ¹  cannot mourn while the bridegroom ²  is with them, can they? But the days ³  are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, ⁴  and then they will fast.

Jesus ¹  said to them, “The wedding guests ²  cannot fast while the bridegroom ³  is with them, can they? ⁴  As long as they have the bridegroom with them they do not fast.

But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, ¹  and at that time ²  they will fast.

But those days are coming, and when the bridegroom is taken from them, ¹  at that time ²  they will fast.”

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then ¹  the door was shut.

So ¹  Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the wedding guests ²  fast while the bridegroom ³  is with them, can you? ⁴ 

When ¹  the head steward tasted the water that had been turned to wine, not knowing where it came from ²  (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he ³  called the bridegroom

Even the light from a lamp will never shine in you again! The voices of the bridegroom and his bride will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the tycoons of the world, because all the nations ¹  were deceived by your magic spells! ²