Mark

The Gospel according to Saint Mark, chapter 4, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 4 New English Translation

The Parable of the Sower

   1 Again he began to teach by the lake. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there while the whole crowd was on the shore by the lake. 2 He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching said to them: 3 "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. 6 When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked it, and it did not produce grain. 8 But other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times." 9 And he said, "Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!"

The Purpose of Parables

   10 When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 He said to them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables,
   12 so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven."
   13 He said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? Then how will you understand any parable? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and snatches the word that was sown in them. 16 These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. 17 But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, 19 but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing. 20 But these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred."

The Parable of the Lamp

   21 He also said to them, "A lamp isn't brought to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Isn't it to be placed on a lampstand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be revealed, and nothing concealed except to be brought to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, he had better listen!" 24 And he said to them, "Take care about what you hear. The measure you use will be the measure you receive, and more will be added to you. 25 For whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."

The Parable of the Growing Seed

   26 He also said, "The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground. 27 He goes to sleep and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 By itself the soil produces a crop, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he sends in the sickle because the harvest has come."

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

   30 He also asked, "To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to present it? 31 It is like a mustard seed that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground - 32 when it is sown, it grows up, becomes the greatest of all garden plants, and grows large branches so that the wild birds can nest in its shade."

The Use of Parables

   33 So with many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable. But privately he explained everything to his own disciples.

Stilling of a Storm

   35 On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go across to the other side of the lake." 36 So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat, and other boats were with him. 37 Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care that we are about to die?" 39 So he got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Be quiet! Calm down!" Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. 40 And he said to them, "Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?" 41 They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, "Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey him!"

King James Version

   1 And 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.
   2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
   3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
   4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
   5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
   6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
   7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
   8 And 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.
   9 And he said unto them, He that 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 parable.
   11 And 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:
   12 That 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.
   13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
   14 ¶ The sower soweth the word.
   15 And 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.
   16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
   17 And 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.
   18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
   19 And 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.
   20 And 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.
   21 ¶ And 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?
   22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
   23 If any man have 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 to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
   25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
   26 ¶ And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
   27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
   28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
   29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
   30 ¶ And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
   31 It 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:
   32 But 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.
   33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
   34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
   35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
   36 And 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.
   37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
   38 And 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?
   39 And he arose, 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 so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
   41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?