And He spokemany thingsto them in parables,saying,"Behold,the sowerwentout to sow;
I will inclinemy earto a proverb;I will expressmy riddleon the harp.
I will openmy mouthin a parable;I will utterdarksayingsof old,
"Sonof man,propounda riddleand speaka parableto the houseof Israel,
Then I said,"AhLordGOD!They are sayingof me, 'Is he not [just] speakingparables?'"
"On that daythey will takeup againstyou a tauntAnd uttera bitterlamentation[and] say,'We are completelydestroyed!He exchangesthe portionof my people;HowHe removesit from me! To the apostateHe apportionsour fields.'
"Will not allof thesetakeup a taunt-songagainsthim, Even mockery[and] insinuationsagainst him And say,Woeto him who increaseswhat is not his-- For howlong--And makeshimself richwith loans?'
and as he sowed,some[seeds] fellbesidethe road,and the birdscameand atethem up.
WhenJesushad finishedtheseparables,He departedfrom there.
Jesusspoketo them againin parables,saying,
"Nowlearnthe parablefrom the fig tree:whenits branchhas alreadybecometenderand puts forthits leaves,you knowthat summeris near;
And He beganto speakto them in parables:"A manPLANTEDA VINEYARDAND PUTA WALLAROUNDIT, AND DUGA VAT UNDER THE WINE PRESSAND BUILTA TOWER,and rentedit out to vine-growersand went on a journey.
And they were seekingto seizeHim, and [yet] they fearedthe people,for they understoodthat He spokethe parableagainstthem. And [so] they leftHim and went away.
And He calledthem to Himself and began speakingto them in parables,"HowcanSatancastout Satan?
And He saidto them, "Do you not understandthisparable?Howwill you understandallthe parables?
With manysuchparablesHe was speakingthe wordto them, sofar as they were ableto hearit;
Petersaid,"Lord,are You addressingthisparableto us, orto everyone[else] as well?"
And He said,"To you it has been grantedto knowthe mysteriesof the kingdomof God,but to the rest[it is] in parables,sothat SEEINGTHEY MAY NOT SEE,AND HEARINGTHEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.
"These thingsI have spokento you in figurativelanguage;an houris comingwhenI will no longerspeakto you in figurative language,but will tellyou plainlyof the Father.
