Mark 4
1 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.
Nʼoge ọzọ, ọ malitere izi ihe nʼakụkụ osimiri. Igwe mmadụ dị ukwuu gbara ya gburugburu, nke mere na ọ banyere nʼime ụgbọ nọdụ ala nʼime ya nʼelu mmiri ahụ, ma igwe mmadụ ahụ nọkwa nʼakụkụ osimiri ahụ.
2 Then he taught them many parables. While he was teaching them, he told them [this]:
O bidoro i kuziri ha ọtụtụ ihe nʼilu, ma nʼozizi ya, ọ sịrị ha,
3 “Consider [well the meaning of this illustration]: A man/farmer went out [to his field] to sow [some seeds].
“Geenụ ntị! Otu onye ọrụ ubi pụrụ gaa ịkụ mkpụrụ ya.
4 As he was scattering them [over the soil], some [of the] seeds fell on the path. Then some birds came and ate those seeds.
Mgbe ọ na-agha mkpụrụ, ụfọdụ mkpụrụ dara nʼakụkụ ụzọ, ụmụ nnụnụ bịara tụtụrịa ha.
5 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.
Ụfọdụ mkpụrụ dara nʼala nkume, ebe aja ntakịrị dị. Ha puputara ngwangwa nʼihi na ala dị nʼebe ahụ emighị emi.
6 But after the sun shone [on those young plants], they became scorched. Then they withered because they did not have [deep] roots.
Ma mgbe anwụ wara, ọ chagburu ha, ha kpọnwụọ nʼihi na ha enweghị mgbọrọgwụ.
7 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.
Mkpụrụ ndị ọzọ dara nʼetiti ogwu; ogwu ahụ tolitere kpagbuo ha. Ha amịkwaghị mkpụrụ.
8 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].”
Mkpụrụ ndị ọzọ nke dara nʼezi ala, puru, tolite, ma mịa mkpụrụ na mmụba iri atọ, iri isii, ọ bụladị otu narị.”
9 Then Jesus said, “If you want to understand this [MTY], you should consider [carefully what I have just said].”
Ọ sịrị ha, “Onye ọbụla nwere ntị ịnụ ihe, ya nụrụ.”
10 [Later], when only the twelve [disciples] and a few [other] people were with him, they asked him about the parables.
Ma mgbe ọ nọ naanị ya, ndị ozi iri na abụọ ahụ na ndị ọzọ nọ ya gburugburu jụrụ ya ajụjụ banyere ilu ahụ.
11 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].
Ọ gwara ha sị, “Enyela unu ihe omimi nke alaeze Chineke. Ma ndị nọ nʼezi, a na-agwa ha ihe niile nʼilu,
12 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}.”
nke mere na, “‘Ha ga na-ele anya, hụkwa, ma ha agaghị ahụ ihe ọbụla, ha ga na-anụ, nụkwa, ma ha agaghị aghọta ihe ọbụla, ma ọ bụghị ya, ha nwere ike chigharịa bụrụ ndị a gbaghaara.’”
13 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].
Mgbe ahụ, ọ jụrụ ha sị, “Ọ bụ na unu aghọtaghị ilu a? Unu ga-esikwa aṅaa ghọta ilu ndị ọzọ?
14 [In the illustration that I told you], the man who sows [seeds represents someone who] declares God’s message [DOU].
Ọgha mkpụrụ ahụ na-agha okwu Chineke.
15 [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.
Mmadụ ụfọdụ dị ka mkpụrụ ndị ahụ dara nʼakụkụ ụzọ, ebe a kụrụ okwu ahụ. Ngwangwa ha nụrụ ya, ekwensu na-abịa napụ ha okwu ahụ nke a kụrụ nʼime ha.
16 [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.
Ndị ọzọ dị ka mkpụrụ a kụrụ nʼala nkume. Ha nụrụ okwu ahụ, were ọṅụ nabata ya nʼotu mgbe ahụ.
17 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.
Ma ebe ha na-enweghị mgbọrọgwụ nʼime ha, ha na-anọ nwa oge nta. Mgbe nsogbu maọbụ mkpagbu bịara nʼihi okwu ahụ, ngwangwa ha na-adachapụ.
18 [Some people are like] the [soil that had roots of] thorny weeds in it. [Although] those people hear [God’s] message,
Ndị nke ọzọkwa, dị ka mkpụrụ dara nʼetiti ogwu, nụrụ okwu ahụ;
19 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)
ma nchekasị nke ndụ a, na nghọgbu nke akụnụba, na oke ọchịchọ, nakwa ihe ndị ọzọ na-abata, kpagbuo okwu ahụ, mee ka ọ ghara ịmị mkpụrụ. (aiōn g165)
20 [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].”
Ndị ọzọ, dị ka mkpụrụ a kụrụ nʼezi ala, nụrụ okwu ahụ, nabata ya ma mịa mkpụrụ dị iri atọ, iri isii, maọbụ otu narị.”
21 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]
Ọ sịrị ha, “A na-ebute oriọna ka e jiri efere kpuchie ya maọbụ dọnye ya nʼokpuru akwa ndina? Ọ bụghị ka a dọba ya nʼelu ihe ịdọba iheọkụ?
22 [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].
Nʼihi na ihe niile e zoro ezo ga-apụta ihe ma ihe niile e kpuchiri ekpuchi ka a ga-emesịa kpughee.
23 If you want to understand this, you should consider [carefully] what you [have just heard].”
Onye ọbụla nwere ntị ịnụ ihe, ya nụrụ.”
24 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.
Ọ sịrị ha, “Kpacharanụ anya ihe unu na-anụ. Ọ bụkwa ihe unu ji tụọrọ ndị ọzọ ka a ga-eji tụọrọ unu, maọbụ karịa.
25 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.”
Onye nwere ihe ka a ga-enye karịa; onye na-enweghị, ọ bụladị nke o nwere ka a ga-anapụ ya.”
26 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.
Ọ sịkwara, “Alaeze Chineke yiri ihe dị otu a. Ọ dịka mgbe otu onye ghara mkpụrụ nʼala ubi.
27 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].
Ehihie na abalị, ma ọ nọ nʼụra ma o tetara, mkpụrụ ahụ na-epupụte na-etokwa, ma ọ maghị ka o si na-eme.
28 First the stalks [appeared]. Then the heads [appeared]. Then the full kernels in the heads [appeared].
Ala ahụ nʼonwe ya na-eme ka mkpụrụ ahụ puo. Ọ na-epupụte na mbụ, too oko, emesịa isi ọka, nʼikpeazụ ọ mịkwara mkpụrụ kara aka nʼoko ya.
29 As soon as the grain was ripe he sent [people] [MTY] to harvest it because it was time to harvest [the grain].”
Mgbe ọka ahụ chara ịghọ ya, o na-eji mma iwe ihe ubi ya bịa gbutuo ọka ahụ, ghọrọkwa ogbe ọka laa, nʼihi na oge iwe ihe nʼubi eruola.”
30 [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].
Ọzọkwa, ọ sịrị, “Gịnị ọzọ ka anyị pụrụ ịsị na alaeze Chineke yiri? Ụdị ilu dị aṅaa ka anyị ga-eji kọwaa ya?
31 [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.
Ọ dị ka mkpụrụ mọstaadị, nke bụ mkpụrụ dịkarịsịrị nta nke a na-akụ nʼala.
32 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.”
Ma mgbe a kụrụ ya, ọ na-eto bukarịa ihe niile a kụrụ nʼubi, ọ na-enwe alaka dị ukwuu nke bụ na ụmụ anụ ufe nke eluigwe na-ezukwa ike nʼokpuru ya.”
33 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].
O jiri ọtụtụ ilu yiri ndị a gwa ha okwu dị ka ha pụrụ ịghọta.
34 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.
O nweghị oge ọbụla ọ gwara ha okwu hapụ iji ilu. Ma ya na ndị na-eso ụzọ ya naanị nọdụ, ọ na-akọwara ha ihe niile.
35 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].”
Nʼụbọchị ahụ nʼoge uhuruchi, ọ gwara ndị na-eso ụzọ ya sị, “Ka anyị gafee nʼofe nke ọzọ.”
36 So they left the crowd, [got in] the boat where Jesus [already] was, and left. [Other people] went with them in other boats.
Ha hapụrụ igwe mmadụ ahụ ma kpọrọ ya, otu ọ dị, ya na ha banyere nʼime ụgbọ. Ụgbọ ndị ọzọ dịkwa na-eso ya.
37 A strong wind came up and the waves started coming into the boat! The boat was soon nearly full [of water]!
Oke ifufe dị ike bidoro ife, ebili mmiri na-awụbakwa nʼụgbọ ahụ ruo na ụgbọ ha fọdụrụ ntakịrị ka mmiri mie ya.
38 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]”
Ma Jisọs nọ nʼazụ azụ ụgbọ ahụ na-arahụ ụra nʼelu ohiri isi. Ndị na-eso ụzọ ya kpọtere ya sị ya, “Onye ozizi, o metụghị gị nʼobi na anyị nʼala nʼiyi?”
39 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.
Ọ biliri ọtọ, baara ifufe ahụ mba sịkwa osimiri ahụ, “Kwụsị! Dere jii!” Ifufe ahụ kwụsịrị, ebe niile dajụrụ deere jii.
40 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]?”
Ọ sịrị ndị na-eso ụzọ ya, “Gịnị mere unu ji atụ oke egwu? Ọ bụ na unu enwebeghị okwukwe?”
41 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]”
Ha niile tụrụ egwu, jụrịta onwe ha sị, “Onye bụ onye a? Ọ bụladị ifufe na ebili mmiri na-erubere ya isi!”
