1 A nd again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.

Again he began to teach by the seaside. A great multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat in the sea, and sat down. All the multitude were on the land by the sea.

2 T hen He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:

He taught them many things in parables, and told them in his teaching,

3 “ Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.

“Listen! Behold, the farmer went out to sow,

4 A nd it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.

and as he sowed, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and devoured it.

5 S ome fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.

Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil.

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

When the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

7 A nd some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.

Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

8 B ut other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing. Some produced thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much.”

9 A nd He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” The Purpose of Parables

He said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”

10 B ut when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.

When he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.

11 A nd He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,

He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,

12 s o that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’” The Parable of the Sower Explained

that ‘seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.’”

13 A nd He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables?

14 T he sower sows the word.

The farmer sows the word.

15 A nd these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

The ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes, and takes away the word which has been sown in them.

16 T hese likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

These in the same way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy.

17 a nd they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.

They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble.

18 N ow these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,

Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word,

19 a nd the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

20 B ut these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” Light Under a Basket

Those which were sown on the good ground are those who hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times.”

21 A lso He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?

He said to them, “Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand?

22 F or there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

For there is nothing hidden, except that it should be made known; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light.

23 I f anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24 T hen He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.

He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and more will be given to you who hear.

25 F or whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” The Parable of the Growing Seed

For whoever has, to him will more be given, and he who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.”

26 A nd He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,

He said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth,

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

and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he doesn’t know how.

28 F or the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.

For the earth bears fruit: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

29 B ut when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” The Parable of the Mustard Seed

But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

30 T hen He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?

He said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it?

31 I t is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth;

It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth,

32 b ut when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” Jesus’ Use of Parables

yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.”

33 A nd with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.

34 B ut without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. Wind and Wave Obey Jesus

Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

35 O n the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”

36 N ow when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.

Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.

37 A nd a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.

38 B ut He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?”

39 T hen He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 B ut He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”

41 A nd they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”