²⁸ The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

⁹ And it is my prayer that ^(A)your love may abound more and more, ^(B)with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, ^(C)and so be pure and blameless ^(D)for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled ^(E)with the fruit of righteousness that comes ^(F)through Jesus Christ, ^(G)to the glory and praise of God.

⁶ And I am sure of this, that he who began ^(A)a good work in you ^(B)will bring it to completion at ^(C)the day of Jesus Christ.

³¹ It is like ^(A)a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, ³² yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

¹² and may the Lord ^(A)make you increase and abound in love ^(B)for one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³ so that he may ^(C)establish your hearts blameless in holiness before ^(D)our God and Father, at ^(E)the coming of our Lord Jesus ^(F)with all his saints.

¹⁰ so as ^(A)to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, ^(B)fully pleasing to him: ^(C)bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

²⁶ So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.