¹⁰ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because the great cedar towered over the thick foliage, and because it was proud^(A) of its height, ¹¹ I gave it into the hands of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with according to its wickedness. I cast it aside,^{(B) 12} and the most ruthless of foreign nations^(C) cut it down and left it. Its boughs fell on the mountains and in all the valleys;^(D) its branches lay broken in all the ravines of the land. All the nations of the earth came out from under its shade and left it.^{(E) 13} All the birds settled on the fallen tree, and all the wild animals lived among its branches.^{(F) 14} Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destined^(G) for death,^(H) for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead.^(I)

¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.^(A)

¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.^(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!^(A) Why should it use up the soil?’

⁸ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”