It is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the wild birds nested in its branches.”

好像一粒芥菜种，有人拿去种在园子里，长大成树，天上的飞鸟宿在它的枝上。”

它好比一粒芥菜种，有人拿去种在园子里，长大成树，天上的飞鸟在它的枝上筑巢。”

它好比一粒芥菜种，有人拿去种在园子里，长大成树，天上的飞鸟在它的枝上筑巢。”

上帝的国就像一粒芥菜种，有人把它种在园里，它长成了一棵树，连飞鸟也来栖息在它的树枝上。”

它好像一粒芥菜种，人拿去种在自己的园子里。它长大了，成为一棵树，甚至天空的飞鸟也在它的枝头搭窝。”

它好比一粒芥菜种子，有人拿去种在自己的园子里，种子长大，成了一棵树，天空的飞鸟也在它的枝子上搭窝。”

好像一粒芥菜種，有人拿去種在園子裏，長大成樹，天上的飛鳥宿在它的枝上。」

它好比一粒芥菜種，有人拿去種在園子裏，長大成樹，天上的飛鳥在它的枝上築巢。」

它好比一粒芥菜種，有人拿去種在園子裏，長大成樹，天上的飛鳥在它的枝上築巢。」

上帝的國就像一粒芥菜種，有人把它種在園裡，它長成了一棵樹，連飛鳥也來棲息在它的樹枝上。」

它好像一粒芥菜種，人拿去種在自己的園子裡。它長大了，成為一棵樹，甚至天空的飛鳥也在它的枝頭搭窩。”

它好像一粒芥菜種；人拿了，撒在自己的園子裏；就生長起來，成了樹；空中的飛鳥也棲息在它的枝子裏。』

它好比一粒芥菜種子，有人拿去種在自己的園子裡，種子長大，成了一棵樹，天空的飛鳥也在它的枝子上搭窩。」

乃似芥種一粒、人取而播於其園、長而成樹、飛鳥棲其枝、

有如芥種、人取投於園、長成大樹、飛鳥棲其枝、○

有如一粒芥種、人取而種於園、長大如樹、飛鳥棲於其枝、

譬諸芥子、人取以播其園中、旋乃發榮滋長、蔚為大樹、即天上之飛禽、亦來棲於其枝。』

It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

It is like a mustard seed. Someone took the seed and planted it in a garden. It grew and became a tree. The birds sat in its branches.”

It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”

It’s like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”

It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”

It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

It is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his own garden; and it grew, and became a tree; and the birds of the heaven lodged in the branches thereof.

It’s like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his own garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky live in its branches.”

So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added.

Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful; on it there was food enough for all. Under it the wild animals used to seek shade, and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest. All creatures used to feed themselves from it.

It is like a mustard seed that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground–when it is sown, it grows up, becomes the greatest of all garden plants, and grows large branches so that the wild birds can nest in its shade.”

You were watching as a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its iron and clay feet, breaking them in pieces.Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were broken in pieces without distinction and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors that the wind carries away. Not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain that filled the entire earth.

His dominion will be vast and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The LORD’s intense devotion to his people will accomplish this.

“ Many nations will join themselves to the LORD on the day of salvation, and they will also be my people. Indeed, I will settle in the midst of you all.” Then you will know that the LORD who rules over all has sent me to you.

In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever.You saw that a stone was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands; it smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. The great God has made known to the king what will occur in the future. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is reliable.”

whose foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful, and from which there was food available for all, under whose branches wild animals used to live, and in whose branches birds of the sky used to nest–

But many of those who had listened to the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

He gave them another parable:“ The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the wild birds come and nest in its branches.”

All the birds of the sky nested in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth, in its shade all the great nations lived.

When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to him,“ You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers of the law.

My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the flowerbeds of balsam spices, to graze in the gardens, and to gather lilies.

It will happen in one day( a day known to the LORD); not in the day or the night, but in the evening there will be light.Moreover, on that day living waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea; it will happen both in summer and in winter.The LORD will then be king over all the earth. In that day the LORD will be seen as one with a single name.

He told them,“ It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain,‘ Move from here to there,’ and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.”

“‘ This is what the sovereign LORD says:“‘ I will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and plant it. I will pluck from the top one of its tender twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.I will plant it on a high mountain of Israel, and it will raise branches and produce fruit and become a beautiful cedar. Every bird will live under it; Every winged creature will live in the shade of its branches.All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I make the high tree low; I raise up the low tree. I make the green tree wither, and I make the dry tree sprout. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it!’”

The LORD who rules over all says,‘ It will someday come to pass that people– residents of many cities– will come.The inhabitants of one will go to another and say,“ Let’s go up at once to ask the favor of the LORD, to seek the LORD who rules over all. Indeed, I’ll go with you.”’Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD who rules over all and to ask his favor.The LORD who rules over all says,‘ In those days ten people from all languages and nations will grasp hold of– indeed, grab– the robe of one Jew and say,“ Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”

The LORD will continually lead you; he will feed you even in parched regions. He will give you renewed strength, and you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring that continually produces water.

In the future the LORD’s Temple Mount will be the most important mountain of all; it will be more prominent than other hills. People will stream to it.Many nations will come, saying,“ Come on! Let’s go up to the LORD’s mountain, to the temple of Jacob’s God, so he can teach us his commands and we can live by his laws.” For Zion will be the source of instruction; the LORD’s teachings will proceed from Jerusalem.

Though the LORD desired to crush him and make him ill, once restitution is made, he will see descendants and enjoy long life, and the LORD’s purpose will be accomplished through him.Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done.“ My servant will acquit many, for he carried their sins.So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels.”“ Shout for joy, O barren one who has not given birth! Give a joyful shout and cry out, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one are more numerous than the children of the married woman,” says the LORD.Make your tent larger, stretch your tent curtains farther out! Spare no effort, lengthen your ropes, and pound your stakes deep.For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your children will conquer nations and will resettle desolate cities.

You are a locked garden, my sister, my bride; you are an enclosed spring, a sealed-up fountain.

Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple. I noticed that water was flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east( for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, from south of the altar.He led me out by way of the north gate and brought me around the outside of the outer gate that faces toward the east; I noticed that the water was trickling out from the south side.When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured 1, 750 feet, and then he led me through water, which was ankle deep.Again he measured 1, 750 feet and led me through the water, which was now knee deep. Once more he measured 1, 750 feet and led me through the water, which was waist deep.Again he measured 1, 750 feet and it was a river I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed.He said to me,“ Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river.When I had returned, I noticed a vast number of trees on the banks of the river, on both sides.He said to me,“ These waters go out toward the eastern region and flow down into the Arabah; when they enter the Dead Sea, where the sea is stagnant, the waters become fresh.Every living creature which swarms where the river flows will live; there will be many fish, for these waters flow there. It will become fresh and everything will live where the river flows.Fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to En-eglaim they will spread nets. They will catch many kinds of fish, like the fish of the Great Sea.But its swamps and its marshes will not become fresh; they will remain salty.On both sides of the river’s banks, every kind of tree will grow for food. Their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit every month, because their water source flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”

In the future the mountain of the LORD’s temple will endure as the most important of mountains, and will be the most prominent of hills. All the nations will stream to it,many peoples will come and say,“ Come, let us go up to the LORD’s mountain, to the temple of the God of Jacob, so he can teach us his requirements, and we can follow his standards.” For Zion will be the center for moral instruction; the LORD will issue edicts from Jerusalem.

O you who stay in the gardens, my companions are listening attentively for your voice; let me be the one to hear it!

So the Lord replied,“ If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this black mulberry tree,‘ Be pulled out by the roots and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Awake, O north wind; come, O south wind! Blow on my garden so that its fragrant spices may send out their sweet smell. May my beloved come into his garden and eat its delightful fruit!I have entered my garden, O my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my balsam spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk! Eat, friends, and drink! Drink freely, O lovers!

For just as the ground produces its crops and a garden yields its produce, so the sovereign LORD will cause deliverance to grow, and give his people reason to praise him in the sight of all the nations.

You were once abandoned and despised, with no one passing through, but I will make you a permanent source of pride and joy to coming generations.You will drink the milk of nations; you will nurse at the breasts of kings. Then you will recognize that I, the LORD, am your deliverer, your protector, the powerful ruler of Jacob.Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold, instead of iron, I will bring you silver, instead of wood, I will bring you bronze, instead of stones, I will bring you iron. I will make prosperity your overseer, and vindication your sovereign ruler.Sounds of violence will no longer be heard in your land, or the sounds of destruction and devastation within your borders. You will name your walls,‘ Deliverance,’ and your gates,‘ Praise.’The sun will no longer supply light for you by day, nor will the moon’s brightness shine on you; the LORD will be your permanent source of light– the splendor of your God will shine upon you.Your sun will no longer set; your moon will not disappear; the LORD will be your permanent source of light; your time of sorrow will be over.All of your people will be godly; they will possess the land permanently. I will plant them like a shoot; they will be the product of my labor, through whom I reveal my splendor.The least of you will multiply into a thousand; the smallest of you will become a large nation. When the right time comes, I the LORD will quickly do this!”

Who would have believed what we just heard? When was the LORD’s power revealed through him?

Look at Abraham, your father, and Sarah, who gave you birth. When I summoned him, he was a lone individual, but I blessed him and gave him numerous descendants.Certainly the LORD will console Zion; he will console all her ruins. He will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the Garden of the LORD. Happiness and joy will be restored to her, thanksgiving and the sound of music.

Yet the children born during your time of bereavement will say within your hearing,‘ This place is too cramped for us, make room for us so we can live here.’Then you will think to yourself,‘ Who bore these children for me? I was bereaved and barren, dismissed and divorced. Who raised these children? Look, I was left all alone; where did these children come from?’”This is what the sovereign LORD says:“ Look I will raise my hand to the nations; I will raise my signal flag to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.Kings will be your children’s guardians; their princesses will nurse your children. With their faces to the ground they will bow down to you and they will lick the dirt on your feet. Then you will recognize that I am the LORD; those who wait patiently for me are not put to shame.Can spoils be taken from a warrior, or captives be rescued from a conqueror?Indeed,” says the LORD,“ captives will be taken from a warrior; spoils will be rescued from a conqueror. I will oppose your adversary and I will rescue your children.

Simeon has explained how God first concerned himself to select from among the Gentiles a people for his name.The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written,‘ After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, namely, all the Gentiles I have called to be my own,’ says the Lord, who makes these thingsknown from long ago.

in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying:“ The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

May there be an abundance of grain in the earth; on the tops of the mountains may it sway! May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon! May its crops be as abundant as the grass of the earth!May his fame endure! May his dynasty last as long as the sun remains in the sky! May they use his name when they formulate their blessings! May all nations consider him to be favored by God!

They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion. They will be radiant with joy over the good things the LORD provides, the grain, the fresh wine, the olive oil, the young sheep and calves he has given to them. They will be like a well-watered garden and will not grow faint or weary any more.