"And he saidto the vineyard-keeper,'Behold,for threeyearsI have comelookingfor fruiton thisfig treewithoutfindingany. Cut it down!Whydoes it evenuseup the ground?'
"Everytreethat does not beargoodfruitis cut downand throwninto the fire.
"Indeedthe axeis alreadylaidat the rootof the trees;soeverytreethat does not beargoodfruitis cut downand throwninto the fire."
"Ifanyonedoes not abidein Me, he is thrownawayas a branchand driesup; and they gatherthem, and castthem into the fireand they are burned.
"Everybranchin Me that does not bearfruit,He takes away;and every[branch] that bearsfruit,He prunesit sothat it may bearmorefruit.
"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.
"And he answeredand saidto him, 'Let it alone,sir,for thisyeartoo,untilI digaroundit and putin fertilizer;
