^13 (A)And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for ^(B)it was not the season for figs.

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

⁶ And he told this parable: “A man had ^(A)a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. ⁷ And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. ^(B)Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ ⁸ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. ⁹ Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?^[a] And ^(A)not one of them is forgotten before God. ⁷ Why, ^(B)even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; ^(C)you are of more value than many sparrows.

³¹ Now by chance a ^(A)priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.

^19 (A)And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

⁹ and watch. If it goes up on the way to its own land, to ^(A)Beth-shemesh, then it is he who has done us this great harm, but if not, then we shall know that it is not ^(B)his hand that struck us; it happened to us by coincidence.”

³ So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech.