Mark 4

1 Once again Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around Him that He got into the boat and sat in it, while all the people crowded along the shore.

2 And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said,

3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.

4 And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.

5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.

6 But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.

8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprouted, grew up, and produced a crop—one bearing thirtyfold, another sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold.”

9 Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

10 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.

11 He replied, “To know the mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,

12 so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven their sins.’”

13 Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?

14 The farmer sows the word.

15 Some are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

16 Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy.

17 But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

18 Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word,

19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

20 Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.”

21 Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?

22 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.

23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24 He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you who hear.

25 For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

26 Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.

27 Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.

28 For all by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within.

29 And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

30 Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we illustrate it?

31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.

32 But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”

33 With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand.

34 He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.

35 When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.”

36 After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other little boats with Him.

37 Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.

38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

40 “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “How do you still have no faith?”

41 Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

1 ¶ And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

3 ‹Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:›

4 ‹And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.›

5 ‹And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:›

6 ‹But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.›

7 ‹And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.›

8 ‹And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.›

9 And he said unto them, ‹He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.›

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

11 And he said unto them, ‹Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all› [these] ‹things are done in parables:›

12 ‹That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and› [their] ‹sins should be forgiven them.›

13 And he said unto them, ‹Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?›

14 ‹The sower soweth the word.›

15 ‹And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.›

16 ‹And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;›

17 ‹And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.›

18 ‹And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,›

19 ‹And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.›

20 ‹And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive› [it], ‹and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.›

21 ¶ And he said unto them, ‹Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?›

22 ‹For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.›

23 ‹If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.›

24 And he said unto them, ‹Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.›

25 ‹For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.›

26 And he said, ‹So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;›

27 ‹And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.›

28 ‹For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.›

29 ‹But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.›

30 And he said, ‹Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?›

31 [It is] ‹like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:›

32 ‹But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.›

33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear [it].

34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

35 ¶ And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, ‹Let us pass over unto the other side.›

36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, ‹Peace, be still.› And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, ‹Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?›

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

1 And he began again to teach by the sea. And much people gathered unto him, so that he entered into a ship, and sat upon the face of the waters. And all the people stood upon the land by the sea.

2 And he preached unto them a long time by parables. And in his preaching he spake unto them:

3 Hearken! Behold, a sower went forth to sow.

4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, that some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured them.

5 Some things fell into the stony places, because they had not much earth; and they rose up quickly, because they had not deep earth.

6 And when the sun was risen, it withered, and because it had no root, it withered.

7 And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it brought forth no fruit:

8 And some fell on good ground, and brought forth fruit, which increased and grew; and some bore thirtyfold, and some sixtyfold, and some an hundredfold.

9 And he said unto them: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him, and the twelve, asked him this parable.

11 And he said unto them: It is given unto you to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without it all is revealed in parables,

12 That they may see with their eyes, and not know; and that they may hear with their ears, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

13 And he said unto them: If ye understand not this parable, how shall ye understand all the rest?

14 the sower sows the word.

15 And these are they which are in the way where the word is sown, and they have heard it: and Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

16 So are they also which are sown on stony ground: when they have heard the word, they soon receive it with joy.

17 And have no root in them, but are fickle: when tribulation or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are vexed.

18 And these are they which are sown among thorns, which hear the word,

19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and many other lusts, enter in, and choke the word, and remain without fruit.

20 And these are they which are sown in a good land, which hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit; some thirtyfold, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

21 And he said unto them: Do men also kindle a light to put it under a bushel, or under a table? Not at all; but set it upon a candlestick.

22 For there is nothing hid, that shall not be revealed; neither is there anything secret, that shall not come forth.

23 he who has ears to hear, let him hear!

24 And said unto them, Take heed what ye hear. With what measure ye measure, they shall measure you again: and it shall be added unto you that hear these things.

25 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

26 And he said, The kingdom of God is as when a man casteth seed upon the land.

27 And he sleepeth, and riseth up night and day, and the seed riseth and groweth, that he knoweth it not.

28 For the earth bringeth forth of itself first the grass, and after that the ears of corn, and after that the full wheat in the ears.

29 But when it hath brought forth the fruit, he sendeth forth the sickle quickly: for the harvest is come.

30 And he said, To whom will we liken the kingdom of God, and by what likeness will we model it?

31 As a grain of mustard seed, when it is sown in the field, it is the least of all the seeds of the earth.

32 And when it is sown, it increaseth, and becometh greater than all cabbages, and getteth forth great branches; so that the fowls of the air dwell under the shadow thereof.

33 And by many such parables spake he the word unto them, after that they heard it.

34 And without a parable spake he nothing unto them: but in particular he expounded all things unto his disciples.

35 And the same day in the evening he said unto them: Let us pass over.

36 And they sent the people away, and took him as he was in the ship: and there were more ships with him.

37 And there arose a great whirlwind, and cast the waves into the ship, so that the ship was filled.

38 And he was in the back of the ship, sleeping on a pillow. And they awaked him, and said unto him, Master, askest thou nothing after this, that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, and be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them: How are ye fearful? How that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared greatly, and said one to another, Who is this? For the wind and the sea are obedient to him.