Mark 4
1 And hee began againe to teache by the sea side, and there gathered vnto him a great multitude, so that hee entred into a shippe, and sate in the sea, and all the people was by the sea side on the land.
Jesus again began to teach by the sea; and, as an immense crowd was gathering round him, he got into a boat, and sat in it on the sea, while all the people were on the shore at the water’s edge.
2 And he taught them many things in parables, and said vnto them in his doctrine,
Then he taught them many truths in parables; and in the course of his teaching he said to them:
3 Hearken: Beholde, there went out a sower to sowe.
‘Listen! The sower went out to sow;
4 And it came to passe as he sowed, that some fell by the way side, and the foules of the heauen came, and deuoured it vp.
and presently, as he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path; and the birds came, and ate it up.
5 And some fell on stonie grounde, where it had not much earth, and by and by sprang vp, because it had not depth of earth.
Some fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and, because the soil wasn’t deep, sprang up at once;
6 But assoone as ye Sunne was vp, it was burnt vp, and because it had not roote, it withered away.
but, when the sun rose, it was scorched, and, because their roots were not deep enough, withered away.
7 And some fell among the thornes, and the thornes grewe vp, and choked it, so that it gaue no fruite.
Some of the seed fell among brambles; but the brambles shot up and completely choked it, and it yielded no return.
8 Some againe fell in good grounde, and did yeelde fruite that sprong vp, and grewe, and it brought foorth, some thirtie folde, some sixtie folde, and some an hundreth folde.
Some fell into good soil, and, shooting up and growing, yielded a return, amounting to thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold.’
9 Then he said vnto them, He that hath eares to heare, let him heare.
And Jesus said, ‘Let anyone who has ears to hear with hear.’
10 And whe he was alone, they that were about him with the twelue, asked him of ye parable.
Afterwards, when he was alone, his followers and the Twelve asked him about his parables;
11 And he saide vnto them, To you it is giuen to knowe the mysterie of the kingdome of God: but vnto them that are without, all thinges bee done in parables,
and he said, ‘To you the hidden truth of the kingdom of God has been imparted; but to those who are outside it all teaching takes the form of parables so that –
12 That they seeing, may see, and not discerne: and they hearing, may heare, and not vnderstand, least at any time they should turne, and their sinnes should be forgiuen them.
“Though they have eyes, they may see without perceiving; and though they have ears, they may hear without understanding; otherwise some day they might turn and be forgiven.”’
13 Againe he said vnto them, Perceiue ye not this parable? howe then should ye vnderstand all other parables?
‘You do not know the meaning of this parable?’ he went on, ‘Then how will you understand all the other parables?
14 The sower soweth the worde.
The sower sows the message.
15 And these are they that receiue the seede by the wayes side, in whome the worde is sowen: but when they haue heard it, Satan commeth immediatly, and taketh away the worde that was sowen in their heartes.
The people meant by the seed that falls along the path are these – where the message is sown, but, as soon as they have heard it, Satan immediately comes and carries away the message that has been sown in them.
16 And likewise they that receiue the seede in stony ground, are they, which whe they haue heard the word, straightwayes receiue it with gladnesse.
So, too, those meant by the seed sown on the rocky places are the people who, when they have heard the message, at once accept it joyfully;
17 Yet haue they no roote in themselues, and endure but a time: for when trouble and persecution ariseth for the worde, immediatly they be offended.
but, as they have no root, they stand only for a short time; and so, when trouble or persecution arises because of the message, they fall away at once.
18 Also they that receiue the seede among the thornes, are such as heare the word:
Those meant by the seed sown among the brambles are different; they are the people who hear the message,
19 But the cares of this world, and the deceitfulnes of riches, and the lustes of other things enter in, and choke the word, and it is vnfruitfull. (aiōn g165)
but the cares of life, and the glamour of wealth, and cravings for many other things come in and completely choke the message, so that it gives no return. (aiōn g165)
20 But they that haue receiued seede in good ground, are they that heare the worde, and receiue it, and bring foorth fruite: one corne thirtie, another sixtie, and some an hundreth.
But the people meant by the seed sown on the good ground are those who hear the message, and welcome it, and yield a return, thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold.’
21 Also he saide vnto them, Commeth the candle in, to be put vnder a bushell, or vnder the bed, and not to be put on a candlesticke?
Jesus said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under the couch, instead of being put on the lamp-stand?
22 For there is nothing hid, that shall not be opened: neither is there a secret, but that it shall come to light.
There is nothing hidden that will not come to light and nothing is concealed that will not be brought into the open.
23 If any man haue eares to heare, let him heare.
Let all who have ears to hear with hear.
24 And he said vnto them, Take heede what ye heare. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured vnto you: and vnto you that heare, shall more be giuen.
‘Take care what you listen to,’ said Jesus. ‘The standard you use will be used for you, and more will be added for you.
25 For vnto him that hath, shall it be giuen, and from him that hath not, shall be taken away, euen that he hath.
For, to those who have, more will be given; while, from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’
26 Also he said, So is the kingdome of God, as if a man should cast seede in the ground,
Jesus also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like – like a man who has scattered seed on the ground,
27 And shoulde sleepe, and rise vp night and day, and the seede should spring and growe vp, he not knowing howe.
and then sleeps by night and rises by day, while the seed is shooting up and growing – he knows not how.
28 For the earth bringeth foorth fruite of it selfe, first the blade, then the eares, after that full corne in the eares.
The ground bears the crop of itself – first the blade, then the ear, and then the full grain in the ear;
29 And assoone as the fruite sheweth it selfe, anon hee putteth in the sickle, because the haruest is come.
but, as soon as the crop is ready, immediately he puts in the sickle because harvest has come.’
30 He saide moreouer, Whereunto shall wee liken the kingdome of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
Jesus also said, ‘To what can we liken the kingdom of God?
31 It is like a graine of mustarde seede, which when it is sowen in the earth, is the least of all seedes that be in the earth:
By what can we illustrate it? Perhaps by the growth of a mustard seed. This seed, when sown in the ground, though it is smaller than all other seeds,
32 But after that it is sowen, it groweth vp, and is greatest of all herbes, and beareth great branches, so that the foules of heauen may builde vnder the shadow of it.
yet, when sown, shoots up, and becomes larger than any other herb, and puts out great branches, so that even the wild birds can roost in its shelter.’
33 And with many such parables he preached the word vnto them, as they were able to heare it.
With many such parables Jesus used to speak to the people of his message, as far as they were able to receive it;
34 And without parables spake hee nothing vnto them: but he expounded all thinges to his disciples apart.
and to them he never used to speak except in parables; but in private to his own disciples he explained everything.
35 Nowe the same day when euen was come, he saide vnto them, Let vs passe ouer vnto the other side.
In the evening of the same day, Jesus said to them, ‘Let us go across.’
36 And they left the multitude, and tooke him as he was in the shippe, and there were also with him other little shippes.
So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him.
37 And there arose a great storme of winde, and the waues dashed into the shippe, so that it was now full.
A violent squall came on, and the waves kept dashing into the boat, so that the boat was actually filling.
38 And he was in the sterne asleepe on a pillow: and they awoke him, and saide to him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Jesus was in the stern asleep on the cushion; and the disciples roused him and cried, ‘Teacher! Is it nothing to you that we are lost?’
39 And hee rose vp, and rebuked the winde, and saide vnto the sea, Peace, and be still. So the winde ceased, and it was a great calme.
Jesus rose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Hush! Be still!’ Then the wind dropped, and a great calm followed.
40 Then he saide vnto them, Why are ye so fearefull? how is it that ye haue no faith?
‘Why are you so timid?’ he exclaimed. ‘Have you no faith yet?’
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who is this, that both the winde and sea obey him?
But they were struck with great awe, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey him?’
