¹⁹ When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them?^[a]

² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,^(A) while every branch that does bear fruit^(B) he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.^{(C) 4} Remain in me, as I also remain in you.^(D) No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;^(E) apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.^{(F) 7} If you remain in me^(G) and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.^{(H) 8} This is to my Father’s glory,^(I) that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.^(J)

¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.^(A)

⁶ But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer,^(A) subjecting us to harsh labor.^(B)

¹⁹ Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.^(A)

⁷ So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!^(A) Why should it use up the soil?’

⁸ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

True and False Prophets

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets.^(A) They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.^{(B) 16} By their fruit you will recognize them.^(C) Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?^{(D) 17} Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.^{(E) 19} Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.^{(F) 20} Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.