馬可福音 4
1 耶穌又在海邊上開始施教，有大夥群眾聚集在他跟前，他祇得上了一隻船，在海上坐著，所有的群眾都在海邊地上。
Another time Jesus began to teach [people] alongside Lake [Galilee. As he was doing that, a very large crowd gathered around him. Because people were jostling him], he got into a boat in the lake [so that he could speak to the crowd better. Then he sat in it and began to teach the crowd from the boat]. At the same time, the crowd was on the shore close to the lake.
2 他用比喻教訓他們許多事，在施教時，他向他們說：「
Then he taught them many parables. While he was teaching them, he told them [this]:
3 你們聽：有個撒種的出去撒種。
“Consider [well the meaning of this illustration]: A man/farmer went out [to his field] to sow [some seeds].
4 他撒種的時候，有的落在路旁，飛鳥來把它吃了；
As he was scattering them [over the soil], some [of the] seeds fell on the path. Then some birds came and ate those seeds.
5 有的落在石頭地裏，那裏沒有多少土壤，即刻發了芽，因為所有的土壤不深，
Other [seeds] fell on ground where there was not much soil [on top of] rock. Very soon the [seeds] sprouted because [the sun warmed] the moist soil quickly where it was not deep.
6 太陽一出來，被晒焦了；又因為沒有根，就乾枯了；
But after the sun shone [on those young plants], they became scorched. Then they withered because they did not have [deep] roots.
7 有的落在荊棘中，荊棘長起來，把它窒息了，就沒有結實；
As the farmer sowed, other [seeds] fell on [ground that contained roots of] thorny plants. [The] seeds [grew, but] the thorny plants also grew up and crowded out [the] good [plants. So the plants] produced no grain.
8 有的落在好地裏，就長大成熟，結了果實，有的結三十倍，有的六十倍，有的一百倍。」
But as the farmer sowed, other [seeds] fell on good soil. As a result, they sprouted, they grew well, and then they produced [plenty of] grain. [Some] plants bore 30 [grains]. [Some] bore 60 [grains]. [Some] bore 100 [grains].”
9 他又說：「有耳聽的，聽罷!」
Then Jesus said, “If you want to understand this [MTY], you should consider [carefully what I have just said].”
10 當耶穌獨自一人的時候，那些跟從他的人和十二門徒便問他這些比喻的意義。
[Later], when only the twelve [disciples] and a few [other] people were with him, they asked him about the parables.
11 耶穌對他們說：「天主國的奧義只賞給了你們，但對那些外人，一切都用比喻，
He said to them, “People have not understood before [the new message] about how God wants to rule people’s lives. It is to you that this is being made known {that I am making this known}. But I tell about this [only] (in parables/figuratively) to those who have not [yet invited God to rule their lives].
12 使他們看是看，卻看不見；聽是聽，卻聽不明白，免得他們回頭而得赦免。」
As a result [it is true what a prophet has written], Although they see [what I do], they do not perceive [what it means] [DOU]. Although they hear [what I say], they do not understand [what it means] [DOU]. So they do not (repent/turn away from their sinful behavior) in order that they would be forgiven {[God] would forgive them}.”
13 耶穌對他們說：「你們不明白這個比喻，又怎能明白其他的一切比喻呢﹖
He also said to them, “([I am disappointed that] you do not understand this illustration!/Can you not understand this illustration?) [RHQ] [If you do not understand] this, (you will certainly not understand any of the [other] illustrations!/how will you understand any of the [other] illustrations?) [RHQ] [Nevertheless, I will explain it to you].
14 那撒種的人撒的，是所講的「話」。
[In the illustration that I told you], the man who sows [seeds represents someone who] declares God’s message [DOU].
15 那撒在路旁的「話」，是指人聽了後，撒殫立時來，把撒在他們心裏的「話」奪了去。
[Some people are like] the path on which [some of] the seeds fell. When they hear [the message], Satan comes at once and causes them to forget what they have heard.
16 同樣，那撒在石頭地裏的，是指人聽了這「話」後，立刻欣然接受；
[Some people are like the ground where the soil was not very deep over] rock. When they hear [God’s] message, they immediately accept it with joy.
17 但他們心裏沒有根，不能持久，及至為了這「話」發生艱難或迫害，立刻就跌倒了。
But, because [the message does not penetrate deeply] [MET] [into their hearts/inner beings, they] believe it for [only a short time. They are like the plants that] did not have deep roots. When others treat such people badly or cause them to suffer because [they believe], those people [who are suffering] soon stop believing God’s message.
18 還有那撒在荊棘中的，是指人聽了這「話」後，
[Some people are like] the [soil that had roots of] thorny weeds in it. [Although] those people hear [God’s] message,
they desire to be rich, and they desire to own many other things. So they worry [only] about material things. The result is that they forget [God’s] message and they do not do [the things that God wants them to do]. (aiōn g165)
20 那撒在好地裏的，是指人聽了這「話」，就接受了，並結了果實，有的三十倍，有六十倍，有的一百倍。」
[But some people] are like the good soil. They hear [God’s] message and they accept it [and they believe] it. [Then they do the things that God wants them to do. They are like the good plants that produced] 30, 60 or 100 [grains].”
21 耶穌又向他們說：「人拿燈來，是為了放在斗底或床下嗎﹖不是為放在燈台上嗎﹖
He also told them [another parable], saying, “(People certainly do not [light] an oil lamp and then bring it [in the house] in order that it may be put {someone may put it} under a container or under a bed./Would anyone [light] an oil lamp and then bring it [in the house] in order that it may be put {someone may put it} under a container or under a bed?) [RHQ] (No, [they light it] in order that it may be put {someone may put it} in a place [where it lights the house].[/Wouldn’t they light it] in order that it may be put {someone may put it} in a place [where it lights the house]?) [RHQ]
22 因為沒有什麼隱藏的事，不是為顥露出來的；也沒有隱密的事，不是為彰明出來的。
[Similarly], there are some [parts of God’s message] that people do not know. [But he intends that] people will understand all the things that they do not know [now].
23 誰若有耳聽，聽罷!」
If you want to understand this, you should consider [carefully] what you [have just heard].”
24 耶穌又向他們說：「要留心你們所聽的：你們用什麼尺度量給人，也要用什麼尺度量給你們，且要多加給你們，
Then he said to them, “Consider carefully what you hear [me say to you], for [God] will let you [understand] to the same degree that you [consider what I say]. [He] will let you [understand] even more than that.
25 因為凡有的，還要給他；凡沒有的，連他所有的，也要從他奪去。」
Those who [consider what I say] and understand it, [God] will enable them to understand more. But those who do not [consider carefully what I say], they will forget even what they already know.”
26 他又說：「天主的國好比一個人把種子撒在地裏，
Jesus also said, “God [has the power to change] people who let him rule their lives. I [will illustrate how that can happen] [MET]. A man planted seeds in the ground.
27 他黑夜白天，或睡或起，那種子發芽生長，致於怎樣，他卻不知道，
Afterwards he slept each night and rose each day [without worrying about the seeds]. [During that time] the seeds sprouted and grew in a way that he did not understand, because by itself the soil [caused the plants to grow and produce grain].
28 因為土地自煞生長果實：先發苗，後吐穗，最後穗上滿了麥粒。
First the stalks [appeared]. Then the heads [appeared]. Then the full kernels in the heads [appeared].
29 果實成熟的時候，便立刻派人以鐮刀收割，因為到了收穫的時期。」
As soon as the grain was ripe he sent [people] [MTY] to harvest it because it was time to harvest [the grain].”
30 他又說：「我們以什麼比擬天主的國呢﹖或用什麼比喻來形容它呢﹖
[Jesus told them] another [parable. He] said, “I will tell you [RHQ] how the [number of people] whose lives God rules in a new way [will continue to grow] (OR, each continue to have more and more influence in this world). I hope [RHQ] that this illustration will show this [to you].
31 它好像一粒芥子，種在地裏的時候，比地上的一切種子都小；
[You know what happens to] mustard seeds when we plant them. Though mustard seeds are among the smallest of seeds, [here in Israel] they become large plants.
32 當下種之後，生長起來，比一切蔬菜都大；並且長出大枝，之致天上的飛鳥能棲息在它的蔭下。」
After they are planted, they grow up and become larger than the other garden plants. They put out big branches so that birds are able to make nests in their shade.”
33 耶穌用許多這樣的比喻，照他們所能聽懂的，給他們講道。」
Jesus used many such illustrations when he talked to the people about God. If they were able to understand [some, he kept telling them more].
34 若不用比喻，他就不給他們講什麼，但下裏卻給自己的門徒解釋一切。
He always used parables when he spoke to them. But he explained all [the illustrations] to his own disciples when he was alone with them.
35 在當天晚上，耶穌對門徒說：「我們渡海到對岸去罷!」
On that same day, when the sun was setting, Jesus said to [his disciples], “Let’s cross over to the opposite side of [Lake Galilee in the boat].”
36 他們遂離開群眾，就照他在船上的原狀，帶他走了；與他一起的還有別的小船。
So they left the crowd, [got in] the boat where Jesus [already] was, and left. [Other people] went with them in other boats.
37 忽然，狂風大作，波浪打進船內，以致小船己滿了水。
A strong wind came up and the waves started coming into the boat! The boat was soon nearly full [of water]!
38 耶穌卻在船尾依枕而睡。他們叫醒他，給他說：「師傅! 我們要喪亡了，你不管嗎﹖」
Jesus was in the back part of the boat. He was sleeping, [with his head] on a cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! (You ought to be concerned that we are about to die!/Are you not concerned that we are about to die?) [RHQ]”
39 耶穌醒來，叱責了風，並向海說：「不要作聲，平定了罷! 」風就停止了，遂大為平靜。
So Jesus got up and rebuked the wind. Then he said to the lake, “Be quiet! Be still! [DOU]” The wind [immediately] blowing and then [the lake] became very calm.
40 耶穌對他們說：「為什麼你們這樣膽怯﹖你們怎麼還沒有信德呢﹖」
He said to the disciples, “([I am disappointed that] you are afraid [like that]!/Why are you afraid [like that]?) [RHQ] Do you not yet believe [that I can protect you]?”
41 他們非常驚懼，彼此說：「這人到底是誰﹖連風和海也聽從他!」
They were very awestruck. They said to one another, “[Not only do the demons obey this man, but] even the wind and the waves obey him! “(What kind of man is he?/This man is [not like ordinary] people!) [RHQ]”
