1 A nd again he began to teach by the sea. And a great crowd was gathered together to him, so that going on board ship he sat in the sea, and all the crowd were close to the sea on the land.

Jesus began to teach by the sea-shore again. Many people gathered around Him. There were so many He had to get into a boat and sit down. The people were on the shore.

2 A nd he taught them many things in parables. And he said to them in his doctrine,

He taught them many things by using picture-stories. As He taught, He said,

3 H earken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow.

“Listen! A man went out to plant seed.

4 A nd it came to pass as he sowed, one fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured it.

As he planted the seed, some fell by the side of the road. Birds came and ate them.

5 A nd another fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprung up out because it had no depth of earth;

Some seed fell among rocks. It came up at once because there was so little ground.

6 a nd when the sun arose it was burnt up, and because of its not having any root, it withered.

But it dried up when the sun was high in the sky because it had no root.

7 A nd another fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

Some seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew and did not give the seed room to grow. This seed gave no grain.

8 A nd another fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and bore, one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred.

Some seed fell on good ground. It came up and grew and gave much grain. Some gave thirty times as much grain. Some gave sixty times as much grain. Some gave one hundred times as much grain.”

9 A nd he said, He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

He said to them, “You have ears, then listen!”

10 A nd when he was alone, those about him with the twelve asked him the parables.

Those who were with Jesus and the twelve followers came to Him when He was alone. They asked about the picture-story.

11 A nd he said to them, To you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to them who are without, all things are done in parables,

He said to them, “You were given the secrets about the holy nation of God. Everything is told in picture-stories to those who are outside the holy nation of God.

12 t hat beholding they may behold and not see, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest it may be, they should be converted and they should be forgiven.

They see, but do not know what it means. They hear, but do not understand. If they did, they might turn to God and have their sins forgiven.” Jesus Tells about the Man Who Planted the Seed

13 A nd he says to them, Do ye not know this parable? and how will ye be acquainted with all the parables?

Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this picture-story? Then how will you understand any of the picture-stories?

14 T he sower sows the word:

What the man plants is the Word of God.

15 a nd these are they by the wayside where the word is sown, and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

Those by the side of the road are the ones who hear the Word. As soon as they hear it, the devil comes and takes away the Word that is planted in their hearts.

16 A nd these are they in like manner who are sown upon the rocky places, who when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy,

The seed that fell among rocks is like people who receive the Word with joy when they hear it.

17 a nd they have no root in themselves, but are for a time: then, tribulation arising, or persecution on account of the word, immediately they are offended.

Their roots are not deep so they live only a short time. When sorrow and trouble come because of the Word, they give up and fall away.

18 A nd others are they who are sown among the thorns: these are they who have heard the word,

The seed that was planted among thorns is like some people who listen to the Word.

19 a nd the cares of life, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

But the cares of this life let thorns come up. A love for riches and always wanting other things let thorns grow. These things do not give the Word room to grow so it does not give grain.

20 A nd these are they who have been sown on the good ground, such as hear the word and receive it, and bear fruit; one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred.

The seed that fell on good ground is like people who hear the Word and understand it. They give much grain. Some give thirty times as much grain. Some give sixty times as much grain. Some give one hundred times as much grain.” The Picture-Story of the Lamp

21 A nd he said to them, Does the lamp come that it should be put under the bushel or under the couch? not that it should be set upon the lamp-stand?

He said to them, “Is a lamp to be put under a pail or under a bed? Should it not be put on a lamp-stand?

22 F or there is nothing hidden which shall not be made manifest; nor does any secret thing take place, but that it should come to light.

Everything that is hidden will be brought into the light. Everything that is a secret will be made known.

23 I f any one have ears to hear, let him hear.

You have ears, then listen!”

24 A nd he said to them, Take heed what ye hear; with what measure ye mete, it shall be meted to you; and there shall be added to you.

Jesus said to them, “Be careful what you listen to. The same amount you give will be given to you, and even more.

25 F or whosoever has, to him shall be given; and he who has not, even what he has shall be taken from him.

He who has, to him will be given. To him who does not have, even the little he has will be taken from him.” The Picture-Story of the Grain

26 A nd he said, Thus is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast the seed upon the earth,

He said, “The holy nation of God is like a man who plants seed in the ground.

27 a nd should sleep and rise up night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he does not know how.

He goes to sleep every night and gets up every day. The seed grows, but he does not know how.

28 T he earth bears fruit of itself, first blade, then an ear, then full corn in the ear.

The earth gives fruit by itself. The leaf comes first and then the young grain can be seen. And last, the grain is ready to gather.

29 B ut when the fruit is produced, immediately he sends the sickle, for the harvest is come.

As soon as the grain is ready, he cuts it. The time of gathering the grain has come.” The Picture-Story of the Mustard Seed

30 A nd he said, How should we liken the kingdom of God, or with what comparison should we compare it?

Jesus said, “In what way can we show what the holy nation of God is like? Or what picture-story can we use to help you understand?

31 A s to a grain of mustard, which, when it is sown upon the earth, is less than all seeds which are upon the earth,

It is like a grain of mustard seed that is planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds.

32 a nd when it has been sown, mounts up and becomes greater than all herbs, and produces great branches, so that the birds of heaven can roost under its shadow.

After it is put in the ground, it grows and becomes the largest of the spices. It puts out long branches so birds of the sky can live in it.”

33 A nd with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear,

As they were able to understand, He spoke the Word to them by using many picture-stories.

34 b ut without a parable spoke he not to them; and in private he explained all things to his disciples.

Jesus helped His followers understand everything when He was alone with them. The Wind and Waves Obey Jesus

35 A nd on that day, when evening was come, he says to them, Let us go over to the other side:

It was evening of that same day. Jesus said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.”

36 a nd having sent away the crowd, they take him with, as he was, in the ship. But other ships also were with him.

After sending the people away, they took Jesus with them in a boat. It was the same boat He used when He taught them. Other little boats went along with them.

37 A nd there comes a violent gust of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it already filled.

A bad wind storm came up. The waves were coming over the side of the boat. It was filling up with water.

38 A nd he was in the stern sleeping on the cushion. And they awake him up and say to him, Teacher, dost thou not care that we are perishing?

Jesus was in the back part of the boat sleeping on a pillow. They woke Him up, crying out, “Teacher, do You not care that we are about to die?”

39 A nd awaking up he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Silence; be mute. And the wind fell, and there was a great calm.

He got up and spoke sharp words to the wind. He said to the sea, “Be quiet! Be still.” At once the wind stopped blowing. There were no more waves.

40 A nd he said to them, Why are ye fearful? how ye have not faith?

He said to His followers, “Why are you so full of fear? Do you not have faith?”

41 A nd they feared great fear, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

They were very much afraid and said to each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey Him!”