³ “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”^[a]?^{(A) 4} And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”^{[b](B) 5} So too, at the present time there is a remnant^(C) chosen by grace.^{(D) 6} And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;^(E) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

⁷ What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.^(F) The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,^{(G) 8} as it is written:

¹⁶ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.^(A) For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”^{[a](B) 17} Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,^(C) and the message is heard through the word about Christ.^{(D) 18} But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

¹⁹ Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

²⁰ And Isaiah boldly says,

⁴ But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.^(A)

²⁹ Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures^(A) or the power of God.

¹¹ Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.^(A)

¹³ This is why I speak to them in parables:

¹⁴ In them is fulfilled^(B) the prophecy of Isaiah:

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.^{(D) 17} For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see^(E) but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom^(F) and does not understand it, the evil one^(G) comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.^{(H) 22} The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth^(I) choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”^(J)

The Parable of the Weeds

²⁴ Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like^(K) a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶ When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

²⁷ “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

²⁸ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

²⁹ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”^(L)

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast^(M)(N)

³¹ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like^(O) a mustard seed,^(P) which a man took and planted in his field. ³² Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”^(Q)

³³ He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like^(R) yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds^[b] of flour^(S) until it worked all through the dough.”^(T)

³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.^{(U) 35} So was fulfilled^(V) what was spoken through the prophet:

²⁵ “Though I have been speaking figuratively,^(A) a time is coming^(B) when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.

⁴ But you, Daniel, roll up and seal^(A) the words of the scroll until the time of the end.^(B) Many will go here and there^(C) to increase knowledge.”

⁵ Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.^{(D) 6} One of them said to the man clothed in linen,^(E) who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”^(F)

⁷ The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand^(G) and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever,^(H) saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.^[a](I) When the power of the holy people^(J) has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.^(K)”

⁸ I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

⁹ He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed^(L) until the time of the end.^(M)

The Scroll and the Lamb

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne^(A) a scroll with writing on both sides^(B) and sealed^(C) with seven seals. ² And I saw a mighty angel^(D) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” ³ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁴ I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵ Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion^(E) of the tribe of Judah,^(F) the Root of David,^(G) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶ Then I saw a Lamb,^(H) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures^(I) and the elders.^(J) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,^(K) which are the seven spirits^[a](L) of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.^{(M) 8} And when he had taken it, the four living creatures^(N) and the twenty-four elders^(O) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp^(P) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers^(Q) of God’s people. ⁹ And they sang a new song, saying:^(R)