The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

⁶ And He was telling this parable: “A man had ^(A)a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and did not find any. ⁷ And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree ^[a]without finding any. ^(B)Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ ⁸ And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in manure, ⁹ and if it bears fruit next year, fine, but if not, cut it down.’”