I begged him seriously to explain the field and the master of the field and the servant and the vineyard and the son and the friends and the counselors; for I understood that all this was a parable.

2He answered and said to me: 'You are exceedingly persistent in your questions. You must not ask anything; for if it were necessary for it to be explained to you, it would be explained.'

3I said to him: 'Lord, the things you show me and do not explain to me, I see them in vain and do not understand what they are. Likewise, if you tell me parables and do not give me their interpretation, I hear them in vain.'

4He answered again and said to me: 'Everyone who is a servant of God and has his Lord in his heart, asks understanding of Him and receives it, and interprets every parable, and the words of the Lord that are spoken in parables become known to him.'

5'But those who are hesitant and slow to pray, hesitate to ask the Lord. Now, the Lord is abundant in mercy and gives to all who ask of Him without ceasing.'

6'But you, who were strengthened by the holy angel, and received from him such power of prayer, and are not slow, why do you not ask understanding of the Lord and receive it from Him?'

7I said to him: 'Lord, having you with me, I have need to ask you and to interrogate you; for you show me all things and speak with me; but if I saw or heard these things without you, I would ask the Lord so that they might be explained to me.'