A parable is a short, plain story told so that you will see a lesson inside it. The most famous ones are the stories Jesus told in the Bible — a farmer sowing seed, a lost sheep, a neighbour who stops to help — where the people and the action stand for something about God or about how to live.

A parableparable（寓言） is是 a short, plain story一個簡短、平實的故事 told so that you will see a lesson inside it講出來是為了讓你看見裡面藏的道理. The most famous ones are最有名的就是 the stories Jesus told in the Bible耶穌在《聖經》裡講的那些故事 — a farmer sowing seed, a lost sheep, a neighbour who stops to help農夫撒種、迷失的羊、停下來幫忙的鄰居 — where the people and the action stand for something about God or about how to live裡面的人物和情節都代表著跟上帝或跟怎麼過生活有關的道理。

Teachers and speakers still use the word for any little story that works that way, not only church ones. It is not a joke, and it is not a long novel; it is short on purpose, so the meaning can sit in your hand.

Teachers and speakers still use the word老師和講者現在還是會用這個字 for any little story that works that way來指任何有這種效果的小故事, not only church ones不只是教會裡的故事. It is not a joke它不是笑話, and it is not a long novel也不是長篇小說; it is short on purpose它故意簡短, so the meaning can sit in your hand好讓道理可以清楚地放在你手心裡。

A fable is a cousin, but fables often use animals and end with a neat moral line; a parable is usually about people and leaves you to notice the point. Though actually, the old Greek word behind it just meant a comparison: you set one picture beside another.

A fable is a cousinfable（寓言故事）是它的近親, but fables often use animals and end with a neat moral line但fable常常用動物當角色，並且用一句整齊的教訓做結尾; a parable is usually about peopleparable通常是講人的故事, and leaves you to notice the point而且要讓你自己去發現重點. Though actually不過其實, the old Greek word behind it just meant a comparison這個字背後的古希臘字原本只是「比較」的意思: you set one picture beside another把一個畫面擺在另一個旁邊。