6 As God’s co-workers^(A) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.^{(B) 2} For he says,

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

⁶ Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.^{(A) 7} So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!^(B) Why should it use up the soil?’

²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^(A) as though God were making his appeal through us.^(B) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^(C)

⁴² and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

³² “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

¹⁹ Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate^(A) and the olive tree have not borne fruit.^(B)

“‘From this day on I will bless^(C) you.’”