Mark 4

 

1 And He began again to teach by the seaside: and there had gathered to Him a great multitude, so that He entered into a ship, and sat on the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

 

2 And He taught them many things by parables (dark sayings), and declared to them in His doctrine,

 

3 Listen; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

 

4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some (seed) fell by the wayside (the side of the road), and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

 

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

 

6 But when the sun came 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 (fruit), some thirty, and some sixty, and some a hundred (times).

 

9 And He said to them, He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

 

10 And when He was alone, those that followed Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.

 

11 And He said to them, To you (who believe, who have ears to hear and eyes to see) it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to them that are outside, all these things are done (using dark sayings) in parables:

 

12 So that (which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled) seeing they (who are blind) may see and not perceive; and hearing they (who are dull of hearing) may hear and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted (their blindness be revealed), and their sins should be forgiven them.

 

13 And He said to them, You do not know this parable? So how then will you know (or understand) all parables?

 

14 The sower sows the word (of God, the incorruptible seed which lives and abides forever).

 

15 And these are they by the wayside, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan (the foul prince of the air) comes immediately and takes 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 But have no root in their (stony hearts) and so endure but for a (short) time: afterward, when affliction or persecution rises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended (and stumble at the truth).

 

18 And these are they which are sown among thorns (whose hearts are fixed on the things in the world); 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 becomes (barren and) unfruitful.

 

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit (of righteousness), some thirty times, some sixty, and some a hundred (times).

 

21 And He said to 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 hidden, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come to light.

 

23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.

 

24 And He said to them, Watch diligently what you hear: (for) with what measure you measure (making use of what you heard), it shall be measured to you (again): and to you that hear (and make use of it) shall more be given (so that you bring forth much fruit).

 

25 For he that has (heard and believed), to him shall be given (an increase in the fruit of righteousness): and he that has not (made use of what he heard), from him shall be taken even that which he has.

 

26 And He said, This is what the kingdom of God is like, 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 does not know how.

 

28 For the earth brings 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, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.

 

30 And He said, With what shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

 

31 It is like a grain of mustard seed (the smallest measure), which, when it is sown into the earth, is less (in size) than all the seeds that are in the earth:

 

32 But when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it (bearing much fruit, as does the word of the kingdom received on the good soil of your heart).

 

33 And with many such parables spoke He the word (of God) to them, as they were able to hear it.

 

34 But without a parable He did not speak to them: and when they were alone, He expounded all things to His disciples.

 

35 And the same day, when the evening had come, He said to them, Let us pass over to 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 (of water).

 

38 And He was in the stern of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they woke Him, and said to Him, Master, do you not care that we perish?

 

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

 

40 And He said to them, Why are you so fearful? How is it that (I was always with you but) you 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?