"To whom, then, will you compare me, the One who is God? Or to what image will you liken me?

"To whom, then, will you compare me, and to whom should I be equal?" asks the Holy One.

"To whom will you compare me, count me equal, or liken me, so that I may be compared?

"To what can I compare the people living today? They're like little children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to each other,

Jesus continued, "To what may I compare the people living today?

I will show you what everyone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them.

What can be said about you? To what should you be compared, fair Jerusalem? To what may I liken you, so I may comfort you, fair one of Zion? Indeed, your wound is as deep as the sea who can heal you?

"That is why the kingdom from heaven may be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

He presented another parable to them: "The kingdom from heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

He presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom from heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field.

So Jesus went on to say, "What is the kingdom of God like? What can I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches."

"The kingdom from heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

"The kingdom from heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.

"At that time, the kingdom from heaven will be comparable to ten bridesmaids who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the groom.

"Similarly, it is like a man going on a trip, who called his servants and turned his money over to them.