²² “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot^(A) from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.^{(B) 23} On the mountain heights^(C) of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit^(D) and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.^{(E) 24} All the trees of the forest^(F) will know that I the Lord bring down^(G) the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.^(H)

“‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.^(I)’”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed^(A)

³⁰ Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like,^(B) or what parable shall we use to describe it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. ³² Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”