“ Son of man, give this riddle, and tell this story to the people 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, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house 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,“ O Sovereign Lord, they are saying of me,‘ He only talks in riddles!’”

Samson said to them,“ Let me tell you a riddle. If you solve my riddle during these seven days of the celebration, I will give you thirty fine linen robes and thirty sets of festive clothing.But if you can’t solve it, then you must give me thirty fine linen robes and thirty sets of festive clothing.”“ All right,” they agreed,“ let’s hear your riddle.”So he said:“ Out of the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet.” Three days later they were still trying to figure it out.On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife,“ Entice your husband to explain the riddle for us, or we will burn down your father’s house with you in it. Did you invite us to this party just to make us poor?”So Samson’s wife came to him in tears and said,“ You don’t love me; you hate me! You have given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.”“ I haven’t even given the answer to my father or mother,” he replied.“ Why should I tell you?”So she cried whenever she was with him and kept it up for the rest of the celebration. At last, on the seventh day he told her the answer because she was tormenting him with her nagging. Then she explained the riddle to the young men.So before sunset of the seventh day, the men of the town came to Samson with their answer:“ What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” Samson replied,“ If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have solved my riddle!”Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to the town of Ashkelon, killed thirty men, took their belongings, and gave their clothing to the men who had solved his riddle. But Samson was furious about what had happened, and he went back home to live with his father and mother.

I sent my prophets to warn you with many visions and parables.”

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story:“ There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor.The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle.The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter.One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”

That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,‘ When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.

Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king. First they said to the olive tree,‘ Be our king!’But the olive tree refused, saying,‘ Should I quit producing the olive oil that blesses both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’“ Then they said to the fig tree,‘ You be our king!’But the fig tree also refused, saying,‘ Should I quit producing my sweet fruit just to wave back and forth over the trees?’“ Then they said to the grapevine,‘ You be our king!’But the grapevine also refused, saying,‘ Should I quit producing the wine that cheers both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’“ Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said,‘ Come, you be our king!’And the thornbush replied to the trees,‘ If you truly want to make me your king, come and take shelter in my shade. If not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”

Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand.In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet:“ I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.”

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Then give these rebels an illustration with this message from the Sovereign Lord:“ Put a pot on the fire, and pour in some water.