Mark 4

The Parable of the Sower

1 And again he began to teach beside the sea,t and a very large crowd was gathered to him, so that he got into a boat and sat on the sea, and the whole crowd was at the sea on the land.2 And he began to teacht them many things in parables, and was saying to them in his teaching,3 “Listen! Behold, the sower went out to sow.4 And it happened that while he was sowing, some seedt fell on the side of the path, and the birds came and devoured it.5 And other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up at once, because it did not have any depth of soil.6 And when the sun rose it was scorched, and because it did not have enough root, it withered.7 And other seed fell among the thorn plants, and the thorn plants came up and choked it, and it did not produce grain.t8 And other seed fell on the good soil, and produced grain,t coming up and increasing, and it bore a crop—one thirty and one sixty and one a hundred times as much.t

9 And he said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The Reason for the Parables

10 And when he was alone, those around him together with the twelve began askingt him about the parables.11 And he said to them, “To you has been granted the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside everything is in parables,

12 so that
‘they may look closelyt and not perceive,
and they may listen carefullyt and not understand,
lest they turn and it be forgiven them.’ ”t

The Parable of the Sower Interpreted

13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? And how will you understand all the parables?14 The sower sows the word.15 And these are the ones beside the path where the word is sown, and whenever they hear it, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.16 And these are liket the ones sown on the rocky ground, who whenever they hear the word immediately receive it with joy.17 And they have no root in themselves, but are temporary. Then when affliction or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away.18 And others are the ones sown among the thorn plants—these are the ones who hear the word,19 and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word and it becomes unproductive.

20 And those are the ones sown on the good soil, who hear the word and receive it and bear fruit—one thirty and one sixty and one a hundred times as much.”t

The Parable of the Lamp

21 And he said to them, “Surely a lamp is not brought so that it may be put under a bushel basket or under a bed, is it?t Is it nott so that it may be put on a lampstand?22 For nothing is secret except so that it may be revealed, nor has become hidden except so that it will come to light.23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”24 And he said to them, “Take care what you hear! With the measure by which you measure out, it will be measured out to you, and will be added to you.

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

The Parable of the Seed that Grows by Itself

26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is like this: like a man scatters seed on the ground.27 And he sleeps and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he does not know how.t28 By itself the soil produces a crop: first the grass, then the head of grain, then the full grain in the head.

29 But when the crop permits, he sends in the sickle right away, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or by what parable can we present it?31 It is like a mustard seed that when sown on the ground, although it is the smallest of all the seeds that are on the ground,32 but when it is sown it grows up and becomes the largest of all the garden herbs, and sends out large branches so that the birds of the sky are able to nest in its shade.”33 And with many parables such as these he was speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear it.

34 And he did not speak to them without a parable, but in private he explained everything to his own disciples.

Calming of a Storm

35 And on that day, when it was evening, he said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”36 And leaving the crowd, they took him along, as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him.37 And a great storm of wind developed, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already being filled with water.38 And he was in the stern sleeping on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, is it not a concern to you that we are perishing?”39 And he woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Be quiet! Be silent!” And the wind abated and there was a great calm.40 And he said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you not yet have faith?”

41 And they were terribly frightenedt and began to sayt to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Mark 4

1 And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land.2 And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in his teaching,3 Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow:4 and it came to pass, as he sowed, some seed fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured it.5 And other fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth:6 and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.7 And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.8 And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.9 And he said, Who 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 parables.11 And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables:12 that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them.13 And he saith unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how shall ye know all the parables?14 The sower soweth the word.15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, straightway cometh Satan, and taketh away the word which hath been sown in them.16 And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy;17 and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble.18 And others are they that are sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word,19 and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.20 And those are they that were sown upon the good ground; such as hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.21 And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed, and not to be put on the stand?22 For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light.23 If any man hath 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 unto you; and more shall be given unto you.25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth;27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how.28 The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.29 But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.30 And he said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth?31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth,32 yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof.33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it;34 and without a parable spake he not unto them: but privately to his own disciples he expounded all things.35 And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side.36 And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him.37 And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling.38 And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish?39 And he awoke, 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 fearful? have ye not yet faith?41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?