¹⁰ And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. ^(A)Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, ^(A)he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

⁹ And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore ^(A)every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

^19 (A)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

^2 (A)Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He ^[a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear ^(B)more fruit.

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

⁶ He also spoke this parable: ^(A)“A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. ⁷ Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it ^[a]use up the ground?’ ⁸ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ^9 [b]And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can ^(B)cut it down.’ ”

² “Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any other wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest? ³ Is wood taken from it to make any object? Or can men make a peg from it to hang any vessel on? ⁴ Instead, ^(A)it is thrown into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both ends of it, and its middle is burned. Is it useful for any work? ⁵ Indeed, when it was whole, no object could be made from it. How much less will it be useful for any work when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned?

⁶ “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem; ⁷ and ^(B)I will set My face against them. ^(C)They will go out from one fire, but another fire shall devour them. ^(D)Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them.

The Coming Messenger