| 1Again he began to teach by the lake. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there while the whole crowd was on the shore by the lake. | 1Again he began to teach by the lake. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there while the whole crowd was on the shore by the lake. |
| 2He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching said to them: | 2He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching said to them: |
| 3"Listen! A sower went out to sow. | 3"Listen! A sower went out to sow. |
| 4And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. | 4And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. |
| 5Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. | 5Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. |
| 6When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered. | 6When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered. |
| 7Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked it, and it did not produce grain. | 7Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked it, and it did not produce grain. |
| 8But other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times." | 8But other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times." |
| 9And he said, "Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!" | 9And he said, "Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!" |
| 10When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. | 10When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. |
| 11He said to them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables, | 11He said to them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables, |
| 12so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven." | 12so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven." |
| 13He said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? Then how will you understand any parable? | 13He said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? Then how will you understand any parable? |
| 14The sower sows the word. | 14The sower sows the word. |
| 15These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and snatches the word that was sown in them. | 15These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and snatches the word that was sown in them. |
| 16These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. | 16These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. |
| 17But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. | 17But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. |
| 18Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, | 18Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, |
| 19but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing. | 19but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing. |
| 20But these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred." | 20But these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred." |
| 21He also said to them, "A lamp isn't brought to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Isn't it to be placed on a lampstand? | 21He also said to them, "A lamp isn't brought to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Isn't it to be placed on a lampstand? |
| 22For nothing is hidden except to be revealed, and nothing concealed except to be brought to light. | 22For nothing is hidden except to be revealed, and nothing concealed except to be brought to light. |
| 23If anyone has ears to hear, he had better listen!" | 23If anyone has ears to hear, he had better listen!" |
| 24And he said to them, "Take care about what you hear. The measure you use will be the measure you receive, and more will be added to you. | 24And he said to them, "Take care about what you hear. The measure you use will be the measure you receive, and more will be added to you. |
| 25For whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." | 25For whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." |
| 26He also said, "The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground. | 26He also said, "The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground. |
| 27He goes to sleep and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. | 27He goes to sleep and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. |
| 28By itself the soil produces a crop, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. | 28By itself the soil produces a crop, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. |
| 29And when the grain is ripe, he sends in the sickle because the harvest has come." | 29And when the grain is ripe, he sends in the sickle because the harvest has come." |
| 30He also asked, "To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to present it? | 30He also asked, "To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to present it? |
| 31It is like a mustard seed that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground-- | 31It is like a mustard seed that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground-- |
| 32when it is sown, it grows up, becomes the greatest of all garden plants, and grows large branches so that the wild birds can nest in its shade." | 32when it is sown, it grows up, becomes the greatest of all garden plants, and grows large branches so that the wild birds can nest in its shade." |
| 33So with many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear. | 33So with many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear. |
| 34He did not speak to them without a parable. But privately he explained everything to his own disciples. | 34He did not speak to them without a parable. But privately he explained everything to his own disciples. |
| 35On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go across to the other side of the lake." | 35On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go across to the other side of the lake." |
| 36So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat, and other boats were with him. | 36So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat, and other boats were with him. |
| 37Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. | 37Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. |
| 38But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care that we are about to die?" | 38But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care that we are about to die?" |
| 39So he got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Be quiet! Calm down!" Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. | 39So he got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Be quiet! Calm down!" Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. |
| 40And he said to them, "Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?" | 40And he said to them, "Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?" |
| 41They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, "Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey him!" | 41They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, "Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey him!" |
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