"And he saidto the vineyard-keeper,'Behold,for threeyearsI have comelookingfor fruiton thisfig treewithoutfindingany. Cut it down!Whydoes it evenuseup the ground?'
"Nowthen letMe alone,that My angermay burnagainst them and that I may destroythem; and I will makeof you a greatnation."
He shoutedout and spokeas follows:"Chopdownthe treeand cutoffits branches,Stripoffits foliageand scatterits fruit;Let the beastsfleefrom underit And the birdsfrom its branches.
Whenyou enterthe landand plantallkinds of treesfor food,then you shall counttheir fruitas forbidden.Threeyearsit shall be forbiddento you; [it] shall not be eaten.
then I will so orderMy blessingfor you in the sixthyearthat it will bringforththe cropfor threeyears.
"Everytreethat does not beargoodfruitis cut downand throwninto the fire.
"And he answeredand saidto him, 'Let it alone,sir,for thisyeartoo,untilI digaroundit and putin fertilizer;
"Indeedthe axeis alreadylaidat the rootof the trees;soeverytreethat does not beargoodfruitis cut downand throwninto the fire."
"Everybranchin Me that does not bearfruit,He takes away;and every[branch] that bearsfruit,He prunesit sothat it may bearmorefruit.
"Ifanyonedoes not abidein Me, he is thrownawayas a branchand driesup; and they gatherthem, and castthem into the fireand they are burned.
