The Eighth Parable of the Willow Tree

1 He showed me a great willow, overshadowing plains and mountains, and all who are called by the name of the Lord have come under the shadow of the willow.⁠a 2 By the willow stood an angel of the Lord, glorious and very tall, holding a large sickle, and he was cutting branches from the willow,⁠b and giving them to the people who found shelter beneath the willow; and he gave them small rods about a cubit long. 3 After everyone had taken the rods, the angel laid the sickle aside, and the tree was left intact, just as I had seen it. 4 Then I wondered, saying to myself, “How is the tree intact after so many branches have been lopped off?” The shepherd said to me, “Do not be amazed that the tree remained intact after so many branches were cut off, but wait until you see all things, and what it means will be shown to you.” 5 The angel who had given out the rods asked the people for them back, and they were summoned to him in the same order in which they had received them, and each returned his own rod. The angel of the Lord took them and examined them. 6 Some returned rods that were withered and seemingly eaten by grubs. The angel ordered those who handed in rods like that to stand apart. 7 Others returned them withered, but not grub-eaten; these also he ordered to stand apart. 8 Others handed theirs in half-withered; these too stood apart. 9 Others returned their rods half-withered and cracked; these also stood apart. 10 Others returned their rods green but cracked; they too stood apart. And others returned rods with one half withered and the other half green; they also stood apart. 11 Others returned rods two parts green, and the third part withered; these too stood apart. And others handed them in two parts withered, and the third part green; these too stood apart. 12 Others returned their rods almost all green, with just a tiny portion of the rod withered at the tip; but they had cracks in them; these too stood apart. 13 Others had a very small portion green, but the rest of the rod was withered; these also stood apart. 14 Still others came bringing their rods green, just as they had received them from the angel; and most of the crowd returned their rods in this condition; and the angel was overjoyed at these; these also stood apart. 15 Others returned their rods green and with shoots; these too stood apart; and the angel was again overjoyed at these. 16 And others returned their rods green and with shoots; and their shoots had, in a way, some fruit. And those people whose rods were found in this condition were extremely glad. The angel was delighted with them, and the shepherd was very happy with them.