“ Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.

“人子啊，你要向以色列家出谜语，设比喻，

“人子啊，你要向以色列家出谜语，设比喻，

“人子啊，你要向以色列家出谜语，设比喻，

“人子啊，你要向以色列人出谜语，讲比喻，

“人子啊！你要向以色列家出谜语，设比喻，

「人子啊，你要向以色列家出謎語，設比喻，

「人子啊，你要向以色列家出謎語，設比喻，

「人子啊，你要向以色列家出謎語，設比喻，

「人子啊，你要向以色列人出謎語，講比喻，

“人子啊！你要向以色列家出謎語，設比喻，

『人子啊，你要向以色列家出謎語，設比喻，

人子歟、其設謎語、作譬詞、謂以色列家曰、

人子、當設譬示以色列族、以隱語相試、

人子、當設隱語、立譬言、示以色列族、

“ Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell it to the Israelites as a parable.

“ Son of man, tell the people of Israel a story about their kings. Let them know what will happen to them.

“ Son of man, propound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;

“ Son of man, give this riddle, and tell this story to the people of Israel.

“ Son of man, ask a riddle and present a parable to the house of Israel,

“ Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel,

Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

“ Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.

Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

“ Son of man, offer a riddle, and tell a parable to the house of Israel.

“ Son of man, tell a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;

Then I said,“ Oh, Lord GOD, they are saying of me,‘ Isn’t he just composing parables?’”

“ Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them.“ If you can explain it to me during the seven days of the feast and figure it out, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.But if you can’t explain it to me, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.”“ Tell us your riddle,” they replied.“ Let’s hear it.”So he said to them: Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet. After three days, they were unable to explain the riddle.On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife,“ Persuade your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father’s family to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?”So Samson’s wife came to him, weeping, and said,“ You hate me and don’t love me! You told my people the riddle, but haven’t explained it to me.”“ Look,” he said,“ I haven’t even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?”She wept the whole seven days of the feast, and at last, on the seventh day, he explained it to her, because she had nagged him so much. Then she explained it to her people.On the seventh day, before sunset, the men of the city said to him: What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion? So he said to them: If you hadn’t plowed with my young cow, you wouldn’t know my riddle now!The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully on him, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men. He stripped them and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. In a rage, Samson returned to his father’s house,

I will speak through the prophets and grant many visions; I will give parables through the prophets.

So the LORD sent Nathan to David. When he arrived, he said to him: There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.The rich man had very large flocks and herds,but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised her, and she grew up with him and with his children. From his meager food she would eat, from his cup she would drink, and in his arms she would sleep. She was like a daughter to him.Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man could not bring himself to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.

That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand.Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You will listen and listen, but never understand; you will look and look, but never perceive.

The trees decided to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree,“ Reign over us.”But the olive tree said to them,“ Should I stop giving my oil that people use to honor both God and men, and rule over the trees?”Then the trees said to the fig tree,“ Come and reign over us.”But the fig tree said to them,“ Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, and rule over trees?”Later, the trees said to the grapevine,“ Come and reign over us.”But the grapevine said to them,“ Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, and rule over trees?”Finally, all the trees said to the bramble,“ Come and reign over us.”The bramble said to the trees,“ If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.”

He was speaking the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand.He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, he explained everything to his own disciples.

so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: I will open my mouth in parables; I will declare things kept secret from the foundation of the world.

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.

Now speak a parable to the rebellious house. Tell them,‘ This is what the Lord GOD says: Put the pot on the fire— put it on, and then pour water into it!