Mark 4
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The Parable of the Sower

(Matthew 13:1-9; Luke 8:4-15)

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1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge.1Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land.1He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.1And 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.1Again He began to teach by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea.
2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:2And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:2And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching,2And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,2He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said to them:
3"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.3“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.3"Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow;3Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:3"Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.
4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.4And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.4as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up.4And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.4As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
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5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.5Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil.5"Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil.5And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:5Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn't have much soil, and it sprang up right away, since it didn't have deep soil.
6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.6And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.6"And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.6But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.6When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn't have a root, it withered.
7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.7Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.7"Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.7Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn't produce a crop.
8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times."8And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”8"Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."8And 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.8Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown."
9Then Jesus said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."9And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”9And He was saying, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."9And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.9Then He said, "Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!"

The Purpose of Jesus' Parables

(Matthew 13:10-17)

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10When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.10And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.10As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables.10And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.10When He was alone with the Twelve, those who were around Him asked Him about the parables.
11He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables11And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,11And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables,11And 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:11He answered them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables
12so that, "'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'"12so that “‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”12so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN."12That 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.12so that they may look and look, yet not perceive; they may listen and listen, yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back-- and be forgiven."

The Parable of the Sower Explained

(Matthew 13:18-23)

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13Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?13And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?13And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?13And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?13Then He said to them: "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any of the parables?
14The farmer sows the word.14The sower sows the word.14"The sower sows the word.14The sower soweth the word.14The sower sows the word.
15Some people are like seed 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 them.15And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.15"These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.15And 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.15These are the ones along the path where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them.
16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.16And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.16"In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy;16And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;16And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.
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17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.17And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.17and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.17And 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.17But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.
18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;18And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word,18"And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word,18And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,18Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word,
19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.19but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.19but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.19And 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.19but the worries of this age, the seduction of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown."20But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”20"And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."20And 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.20But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word, welcome it, and produce a crop: 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown."

The Lesson of the Lamp

(Luke 8:16-18)

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21He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand?21And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?21And He was saying to them, "A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?21And 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?21He also said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it to be put on a lampstand?
22For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.22For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.22"For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.22For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.22For nothing is concealed except to be revealed, and nothing hidden except to come to light.
23If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear."23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”23"If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."23If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.23If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!"
24"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more.24And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.24And He was saying to them, "Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.24And 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.24Then He said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you.
25Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them."25For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”25"For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him."25For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.25For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away."

The Seed Growing Secretly

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26He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.26And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.26And He was saying, "The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;26And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;26"The kingdom of God is like this," He said. "A man scatters seed on the ground;
27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.27He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.27and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows-- how, he himself does not know.27And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.27he sleeps and rises--night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows--he doesn't know how.
28All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.28The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.28"The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head.28For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.28The soil produces a crop by itself--first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain on the head.
29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."29But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”29"But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."29But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.29But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because the harvest has come."

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

(Matthew 13:31-32; Luke 13:18-19)

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30Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?30And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?30And He said, "How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it?30And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?30And He said: "How can we illustrate the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to describe it?
31It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.31It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,31"It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil,31It 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:31It's like a mustard seed that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground.
32Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade."32yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”32yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE."32But 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.32And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables, and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest in its shade."
33With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.33With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.33With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it;33And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.33He would speak the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand.
34He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.34He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.34and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.34But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.34And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.

Jesus Stills the Storm

(Matthew 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25)

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35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”35On that day, when evening came, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side."35And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.35On that day, when evening had come, He told them, "Let's cross over to the other side of the sea."
36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.36And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.36Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him.36And 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.36So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was already in the boat. And other boats were with Him.
37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.37And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up.37And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.37A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.
38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”38Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"38And 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?38But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, "Teacher! Don't You care that we're going to die?"
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39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.39And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.39He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!" The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"40He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”40And He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"40And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?40Then He said to them, "Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?"
41They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”41They became very much afraid and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?41And they were terrified and asked one another, "Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!"



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