English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
1
About that time some people came up and told him about the Galileans Pilate had killed while they were at worship, mixing their blood with the blood of the sacrifices on the altar.
2 And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?
2
Jesus responded, "Do you think those murdered Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans?
3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
3
Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you too will die.
4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
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And those eighteen in Jerusalem the other day, the ones crushed and killed when the Tower of Siloam collapsed and fell on them, do you think they were worse citizens than all other Jerusalemites?
5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
5
Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you too will die."
6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
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Then he told them a story: "A man had an apple tree planted in his front yard. He came to it expecting to find apples, but there weren't any.
7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?'
7
He said to his gardener, 'What's going on here? For three years now I've come to this tree expecting apples and not one apple have I found. Chop it down! Why waste good ground with it any longer?'
8 And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.
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"The gardener said, 'Let's give it another year. I'll dig around it and fertilize,
9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
9
and maybe it will produce next year; if it doesn't, then chop it down.'"
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.