1 A nd 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.

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 by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

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

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

“Listen! A man went out to plant seed.

4 A nd it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

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

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

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

6 B ut when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

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

7 A nd some fell among 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 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.

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 unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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

10 A nd when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

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 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:

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 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.

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 said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all 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 soweth the word.

What the man plants is the Word of God.

15 A nd 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.

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 likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

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

17 A nd 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.

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 these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

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

19 A nd 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.

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 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.

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 unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

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 hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

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

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

You have ears, then listen!”

24 A nd 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.

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 he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

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, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

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

27 A nd should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

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

28 F or the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the 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 brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because 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, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall 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 I t 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:

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

32 B ut 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.

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 spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

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

34 B ut without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded 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 the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto 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 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.

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 arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

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 hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

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 he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, 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 unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

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

41 A nd they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man 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!”