The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

⁶ And He told this parable:^(A) “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none.^{(B) 7} He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!^(C) Why should it even waste the soil?’^(D)

⁸ “But he replied to him, ‘Sir,^[a] leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.^{(E) 9} Perhaps it will bear fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’”