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.”

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’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 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.”

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.”

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day— about 3,000 in all.

It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree.

It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds,but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”

As you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay, smashing them to bits.The whole statue was crushed into small pieces of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold. Then the wind blew them away without a trace, like chaff on a threshing floor. But the rock that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth.

His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you.

“ During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain, though not by human hands, that crushed to pieces the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God was showing the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is certain.”

It had fresh green leaves and was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches.

But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.

Here is another illustration Jesus used:“ The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

The birds nested in its branches, and in its shade all the wild animals gave birth. All the great nations of the world lived in its shadow.

After hearing this, they praised God. And then they said,“ You know, dear brother, how many thousands of Jews have also believed, and they all follow the law of Moses very seriously.

My lover has gone down to his garden, to his spice beds, to browse in the gardens and gather the lilies.

yet there will be continuous day! Only the Lord knows how this could happen. There will be no normal day and night, for at evening time it will still be light.On that day life giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously in both summer and winter.And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord— his name alone will be worshiped.

“ You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them.“ I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain,‘ Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

“ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar, and I will plant it on the top of Israel’s highest mountain.It will become a majestic cedar, sending forth its branches and producing seed. Birds of every sort will nest in it, finding shelter in the shade of its branches.And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said!”

“ This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: People from nations and cities around the world will travel to Jerusalem.The people of one city will say to the people of another,‘ Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us. Let’s worship the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I’m determined to go.’Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and to ask for his blessing.“ This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say,‘ Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well watered garden, like an ever flowing spring.

In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.People from many nations will come and say,“ Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.

But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.“ Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband,” says the Lord.“ Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense!For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities.

You are my private garden, my treasure, my bride, a secluded spring, a hidden fountain.

In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side.The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway.Measuring as he went, he took me along the stream for 1,750 feet and then led me across. The water was up to my ankles.He measured off another 1,750 feet and led me across again. This time the water was up to my knees. After another 1,750 feet, it was up to my waist.Then he measured another 1,750 feet, and the river was too deep to walk across. It was deep enough to swim in, but too deep to walk through.He asked me,“ Have you been watching, son of man?” Then he led me back along the riverbank.When I returned, I was surprised by the sight of many trees growing on both sides of the river.Then he said to me,“ This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure.There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows.Fishermen will stand along the shores of the Dead Sea. All the way from En gedi to En eglaim, the shores will be covered with nets drying in the sun. Fish of every kind will fill the Dead Sea, just as they fill the Mediterranean.But the marshes and swamps will not be purified; they will still be salty.Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”

In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.People from many nations will come and say,“ Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.

O my darling, lingering in the gardens, your companions are fortunate to hear your voice. Let me hear it, too!

The Lord answered,“ If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree,‘ May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!

Awake, north wind! Rise up, south wind! Blow on my garden and spread its fragrance all around. Come into your garden, my love; taste its finest fruits.I have entered my garden, my treasure, my bride! I gather myrrh with my spices and eat honeycomb with my honey. I drink wine with my milk. Oh, lover and beloved, eat and drink! Yes, drink deeply of your love!

The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.

“ Though you were once despised and hated, with no one traveling through you, I will make you beautiful forever, a joy to all generations.Powerful kings and mighty nations will satisfy your every need, as though you were a child nursing at the breast of a queen. You will know at last that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.I will exchange your bronze for gold, your iron for silver, your wood for bronze, and your stones for iron. I will make peace your leader and righteousness your ruler.Violence will disappear from your land; the desolation and destruction of war will end. Salvation will surround you like city walls, and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there.“ No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the Lord will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end.All your people will be righteous. They will possess their land forever, for I will plant them there with my own hands in order to bring myself glory.The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”

Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?

Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.”The Lord will comfort Israel again and have pity on her ruins. Her desert will blossom like Eden, her barren wilderness like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found there. Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air.

The generations born in exile will return and say,‘ We need more room! It’s crowded here!’Then you will think to yourself,‘ Who has given me all these descendants? For most of my children were killed, and the rest were carried away into exile. I was left here all alone. Where did all these people come from? Who bore these children? Who raised them for me?’”This is what the Sovereign Lord says:“ See, I will give a signal to the godless nations. They will carry your little sons back to you in their arms; they will bring your daughters on their shoulders.Kings and queens will serve you and care for all your needs. They will bow to the earth before you and lick the dust from your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Those who trust in me will never be put to shame.”Who can snatch the plunder of war from the hands of a warrior? Who can demand that a tyrant let his captives go?But the Lord says,“ The captives of warriors will be released, and the plunder of tyrants will be retrieved. For I will fight those who fight you, and I will save your children.

Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself.And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:‘ Afterward I will return and restore the fallen house of David. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,so that the rest of humanity might seek the Lord, including the Gentiles— all those I have called to be mine. The Lord has spoken—he who made these things known so long ago.’

They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.

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

May there be abundant grain throughout the land, flourishing even on the hilltops. May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon, and may the people thrive like grass in a field.May the king’s name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.

They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem. They will be radiant because of the Lord’s good gifts— the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone.