< Matthew 13 >

1 The same day went Iesus out of the house, and sate by the sea side.
That same day, when Jesus had left the house and was sitting by the sea,
2 And great multitudes resorted vnto him, so that he went into a ship, and sate downe: and the whole multitude stoode on the shore.
such great crowds gathered round him, that he got into a boat, and sat in it, while all the people stood on the beach.
3 Then he spake many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sowe.
Then he told them many truths in parables. ‘The sower,’ he began, ‘went out to sow; and,
4 And as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the foules came and deuoured them vp.
as they were sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 And some fell vpon stony grounde, where they had not much earth, and anon they sprong vp, because they had no depth of earth.
Some fell on rocky places, where it had not much soil, and, because the soil wasn’t deep, sprang up at once.
6 And when the sunne was vp, they were parched, and for lacke of rooting, withered away.
As soon as the sun had risen, it was scorched, and, because their roots were not deep enough, withered away.
7 And some fell among thornes, and the thornes sprong vp, and choked them.
Some, again, fell into the brambles; but the brambles shot up and choked it.
8 Some againe fel in good ground, and brought forth fruite, one corne an hundreth folde, some sixtie folde, and another thirtie folde.
Some, however, fell on good soil, and yielded a return, sometimes one hundred, sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty fold.
9 He that hath eares to heare, let him heare.
Let those who have ears hear.’
10 Then the disciples came, and said to him, Why speakest thou to them in parables?
Afterwards his disciples came to him, and said, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’
11 And he answered, and said vnto them, Because it is giuen vnto you, to know the secretes of the kingdome of heauen, but to the it is not giue.
‘To you,’ answered Jesus, ‘the knowledge of the hidden truths of the kingdom of heaven has been imparted, but not to those.
12 For whosoeuer hath, to him shalbe giuen, and he shall haue abundance: but whosoeuer hath not, from him shalbe taken away, euen that he hath.
For, to all who have, more will be given, and they will have abundance; but, from all who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
13 Therefore speake I to them in parables, because they seeing, doe not see: and hearing, they heare not, neither vnderstand.
That is why I speak to them in parables, because, though they have eyes, they do not see, and though they have ears, they do not hear or understand.
14 So in them is fulfilled the prophecie of Esaias, which prophecie saieth, By hearing, ye shall heare, and shall not vnderstand, and seeing, ye shall see, and shall not perceiue.
In them is being fulfilled that prophecy of Isaiah which says – “You will hear with your ears without ever understanding, and, though you have eyes, you will see without ever perceiving,
15 For this peoples heart is waxed fat, and their eares are dull of hearing, and with their eyes they haue winked, lest they should see with their eyes, and heare with their eares, and should vnderstand with their hearts, and should returne, that I might heale them.
for the mind of this nation has grown dense, and their ears are dull of hearing, their eyes also have they closed; otherwise some day they might perceive with their eyes, and with their ears they might hear, and in their mind they might understand, and might turn – and I might heal them.”
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your eares, for they heare.
‘But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear;
17 For verely I say vnto you, that many Prophets, and righteous men haue desired to see those things which ye see, and haue not seene them, and to heare those things which ye heare, and haue not heard them.
for I tell you that many prophets and good people have longed for the sight of the things which you are seeing, yet never saw them, and to hear the things which you are hearing, yet never heard them.
18 Heare ye therefore ye parable of ye sower.
‘Listen, then, yourselves to the parable of the sower.
19 Whensoeuer any man heareth the woorde of that kingdome, and vnderstandeth it not, that euil one commeth, and catcheth away that which was sowen in his heart: and this is he which hath receiued the seede by the way side.
When anyone hears the message of the kingdom without understanding it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in their mind. This is the person meant by the seed which was sown along the path.
20 And hee that receiued seede in the stonie grounde, is he which heareth the woorde, and incontinently with ioy receiueth it,
By the seed which was sown on rocky places is meant the person who hears the message, and at once accepts it joyfully;
21 Yet hath he no roote in himselfe, and dureth but a season: for assoone as tribulation or persecution commeth because of the woorde, by and by he is offended.
but, as they have no root, they stand for only a short time; and, when trouble or persecution arises because of the message, they fall away at once.
22 And hee that receiued the seede among thornes, is hee that heareth the woorde: but the care of this worlde, and the deceitfulnesse of riches choke the word, and he is made vnfruitfull. (aiōn g165)
By the seed which was sown among the brambles is meant the person who hears the message, but the cares of life and the glamour of wealth completely choke the message, so that it gives no return. (aiōn g165)
23 But he that receiued the seede in the good ground, is he that heareth the worde, and vnderstandeth it, which also beareth fruite, and bringeth foorth, some an hundreth folde, some sixtie folde, and some thirtie folde.
But by the seed which was sown on the good ground is meant the person who hears the message and understands it, and really yields a return, sometimes one hundred, sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty fold.’
24 Another parable put hee foorth vnto them, saying, The kingdome of heauen is like vnto a man which sowed good seede in his fielde.
Another parable which Jesus told them was this – ‘The kingdom of heaven is compared to a person who sowed good seed in their field.
25 But while men slept, there came his enemie, and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his waie.
But, while everyone was asleep, their enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.
26 And when the blade was sprong vp, and brought forth fruite, then appeared the tares also.
So, when the blades of corn shot up, and came into ear, the weeds made their appearance also.
27 Then came the seruaunts of the housholder, and sayd vnto him, Master, sowedst not thou good seede in thy fielde? from whence then hath it tares?
The owner’s servants came to them, and said “Was not it good seed that you sowed in your field? Where, then, do the weeds in it come from?”
28 And hee said to them, Some enuious man hath done this. Then the seruants saide vnto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them vp?
“An enemy has done this,” was the owner’s answer. “Do you wish us, then,” they asked, “to go and gather them together?”
29 But he saide, Nay, lest while yee goe about to gather the tares, yee plucke vp also with them the wheat.
“No,” said he, “because while you are pulling up the weeds you might uproot the wheat with them.
30 Let both growe together vntill the haruest, and in time of haruest I will say to the reapers, Gather yee first the tares, and binde them in sheaues to burne them: but gather the wheate into my barne.
Let both grow side by side until harvest; and then I will say to the reapers, Gather the weeds together first, and tie them in bundles for burning; but bring all the wheat into my barn.”’
31 Another parable he put foorth vnto them, saying, The kingdome of heauen is like vnto a graine of mustard seede, which a man taketh and soweth in his fielde:
Another parable which he told them was this – ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a person took and sowed in his field.
32 Which in deede is the least of all seedes: but when it is growen, it is the greatest among herbes, and it is a tree, so that the birdes of heauen come and builde in the branches thereof.
This seed is smaller than all other seeds, but, when it has grown up, it is larger than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that “the wild birds come and roost in its branches.”’
33 Another parable spake hee to them, The kingdome of heauen is like vnto leauen, which a woman taketh and hideth in three pecks of meale, till all be leauened.
This was another parable which Jesus related – ‘The kingdom of heaven is like some yeast which a woman took and covered up in three pecks of flour, until the whole had risen.’
34 All these thinges spake Iesus vnto the multitude in parables, and without parables spake he not to them,
Of all this Jesus spoke to the crowd in parables; indeed to them he used never to speak at all except in parables,
35 That it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the Prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables, and will vtter the thinges which haue beene kept secrete from the foundation of the worlde.
in fulfilment of these words in the prophet – “I will speak to them in parables; I will utter things kept secret since the foundation of the world.”
36 Then sent Iesus the multitude away, and went into the house. And his disciples came vnto him, saying, Declare vnto vs the parable of the tares of that fielde.
Then Jesus left the crowd, and went into the house. Presently his disciples came to him, and said, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.’
37 Then answered he, and saide to them, He that soweth the good seede, is the Sonne of man.
He answered, ‘The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man.
38 And the field is the worlde, and the good seede are the children of the kingdome, and the tares are the children of that wicked one.
The field is the world. By the good seed is meant the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the wicked,
39 And the enemie that soweth them, is the deuill, and the haruest is the end of the worlde, and the reapers be the Angels. (aiōn g165)
and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest time is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. (aiōn g165)
40 As then the tares are gathered and burned in ye fire, so shall it be in the end of this world. (aiōn g165)
And, just as the weeds are gathered and burnt, so it will be at the close of the age. (aiōn g165)
41 The Sonne of man shall send forth his Angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which doe iniquitie,
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all that hinders and those who live in sin,
42 And shall cast them into a fornace of fire. There shalbe wailing and gnashing of teeth.
and will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
43 Then shall the iust men shine as ye sunne in the kingdome of their Father. Hee that hath eares to heare, let him heare.
Then will the righteous shine, like the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. If you have ears, listen.
44 Againe, the kingdom of heauen is like vnto a treasure hid in ye field, which when a man hath found, he hideth it, and for ioy thereof departeth and selleth all that he hath, and buieth that field.
‘The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a person found and hid again, and then, in their delight, went and sold everything that they had, and bought that field.
45 Againe, the kingdome of heauen is like to a marchant man, that seeketh good pearles,
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of choice pearls.
46 Who hauing found a pearle of great price, went and solde all that he had, and bought it.
Finding one of great value, they went and sold everything that they had, and bought it.
47 Againe, the kingdom of heauen is like vnto a drawe net cast into the sea, that gathereth of all kindes of things.
Or again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was cast into the sea, and caught fish of all kinds.
48 Which, when it is full, men draw to lande, and sit and gather the good into vessels, and cast the bad away.
When it was full, they hauled it up on the beach, and sat down and sorted the good fish into baskets, but threw the worthless ones away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world. The Angels shall goe foorth, and seuer the bad from among the iust, (aiōn g165)
So will it be at the close of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous, (aiōn g165)
50 And shall cast them into a fornace of fire: there shalbe wailing, and gnashing of teeth.
and will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
51 Iesus saide vnto them, Vnderstand yee all these things? They saide vnto him, Yea, Lord.
‘Have you understood all this?’ Jesus asked. ‘Yes,’ they answered.
52 Then sayd hee vnto them, Therefore euery Scribe which is taught vnto the kingdome of heauen, is like vnto an householder, which bringeth foorth out of his treasure things both newe and olde.
Then he added, ‘So every teacher of the Law, who has received instruction about the kingdom of heaven, is like a householder who produces from his stores things both new and old.’
53 And it came to passe, that when Iesus had ended these parables, he departed thence,
When Jesus had finished these parables, he withdrew from that place.
54 And came into his owne countrey, and taught them in their Synagogue, so that they were astonied, and saide, Whence commeth this wisdome and great woorkes vnto this man?
Going to his own part of the country, he taught the people in their synagogue in such a manner that they were deeply impressed. ‘Where did he get this wisdom?’ they said, ‘and the miracles?
55 Is not this the carpenters sonne? Is not his mother called Marie, and his brethren Iames and Ioses, and Simon and Iudas?
Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And are not his sisters all with vs? Whence then hath he all these things?
And his sisters, too – are not they all living among us? Where, then did he get all this?’
57 And they were offended with him. Then Iesus said to them, A Prophet is not without honour, saue in his owne countrey, and in his owne house.
These things proved a hindrance to their believing in him. But Jesus said, ‘A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country and in his own house.’
58 And he did not many great woorkes there, for their vnbeliefes sake.
He did not work many miracles there, because of their want of faith.

< Matthew 13 >