Mark 4
Worldwide English (New Testament)
4 Jesus began to teach people by the sea again. Many people came to him. So he got in a boat on the sea and sat down. The people were by the sea on the land.
2 He told the people stories and taught them many things.
3 He said, `Listen. A man went out to sow some seed.
4 As he sowed it, some of the seed fell on the road. Birds came and ate the seed.
5 Some seed fell on the stony ground. Not much ground covered the stones. The seed started to grow right away because it was not deep in the ground.
6 When the sun began to shine, it was too hot for the new plants. They died because they had no roots.
7 Some seed fell among the weeds. The weeds grew up and made the new plants die. So no seeds grew on them.
8 But some seed fell on good ground. That seed grew and the plants gave more seed. Some plants gave thirty seeds. Some gave sixty. And some gave a hundred.'
9 Jesus said to them, `Everyone who has ears to hear, listen!'
10 Later, Jesus was alone. Then the twelve disciples and the other people who were there asked him about the stories.
11 He said to them, `You can learn the secret things about the kingdom of God. But we must use stories to tell the other people.
12 `They may look and look, but they will not see. They may listen and listen, but they will not understand. If they did understand, they would turn back to God and he would forgive them for the wrong things they have done.'
13 Jesus said also, `Do you not understand this story? How then are you going to understand all the stories?
14 The man who sows the seed tells God's message.
15 Those beside the road are like people who hear the message. But as soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes it out of their hearts
16 The seed that fell on the stony ground is the same. It is like people who hear the message and as soon as they hear it they are very glad.
17 They believe it for a short time. When trouble or a hard time comes because of the message, they stop believing.
18 The seed that fell among the weeds is like people who hear the message.
19 But they think about the things of this world. They want to get money and other things to be happy. These things push the message out of their hearts. No good comes from it.
20 But some seed fell on good ground. That is like people who hear the message and understand it. Much good comes from it. Some people are like the seed that made thirty seeds. Some people are like the seed that gave sixty. Some people are like the seed that gave a hundred.'
21 Then Jesus said to them, `People do not bring a light and put it under a basket or under a bed. But they put it on the place for a lamp.
22 Everything that is hidden will be seen. Everything that is secret will be known and come out to be seen.
23 Everyone who has ears to hear, listen!'
24 And Jesus said, `Take care how you listen. How much you give to others is how much will be given to you. You who obey God will get more than you give.
25 Anyone who has some will get more. But he who does not have anything, even the little that he has will be taken away from him.'
26 And Jesus said, `The kingdom of God is like this. A man sows some seed in the ground.
27 Then he goes on just as he did before. He sleeps at night and wakes up in the morning. The seed begins to grow but he doesn't know what makes it grow.
28 The ground itself makes the seed grow. First the plant comes up. Then it begins to have seed of its own. After a while the harvest is ready.
29 When the harvest is really ready, he cuts it right away because the harvest time has come.'
30 And Jesus said, `What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I say it is like?
31 It is like this. A mustard seed is the smallest seed that is ever planted in the earth.
32 But the plant that grows from that seed is bigger than any other plant. It puts out very big branches. The birds come and live in its branches.'
33 Jesus told the people many stories like this. He told them as much of God's words as they were able to understand.
34 He did not tell them anything without a story. When he was alone with his disciples, he told them the meaning of the stories.
35 In the evening of that day, Jesus said to his disciples, `Let us cross over to the other side of the sea.'
36 The disciples left the people and took Jesus away in the boat he was in. Other little boats were with him.
37 A very strong wind began to blow. Water came in the boat. It began to fill up with water.
38 Jesus was in the back end of the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow. The disciples woke him up. `Master,' they shouted. `We will die! Do you not care?'
39 Then Jesus got up. He said to the wind and the sea, `Stop!' The wind stopped. Then all was quiet.
40 Then he said to the disciples, `Why do you fear? Do you not believe in God?'
41 The disciples were surprised. They said to each other, `What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him.'
Mark 4
Revised Geneva Translation
4 And He began again to teach by the seaside. And there gathered to Him a great multitude. So that He entered into a ship and sat in the sea. And all the people were by the seaside, on the land.
2 And He taught them many things in parables, and said to them in His doctrine,
3 “Hear now. Behold, there went out a sower to sow.
4 “And it happened that, as he sowed, some fell by the wayside. And the birds of the heaven came and devoured it up.
5 “And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth. And it quickly sprang up, because it had not depth of earth.
6 “But as soon as the Sun was up, it was burnt up. And because it had no root, it withered away.
7 “And some fell among the thorns. And the thorns grew up and choked it, so that it gave no fruit.
8 “Some again fell in good ground, and did yield fruit, that sprang up and grew. And it brought forth - some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, and some a hundredfold.”
9 Then He said to them, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”
10 And when He was alone, those who were around Him, with the twelve, asked Him of the parable.
11 And He said to them, “To you it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God. But to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,
12 “So that those seeing may see, and not discern. And those hearing may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should turn, and their sins should be forgiven them.”
13 Again He said to them, “Do you not perceive this parable? How then shall you understand all other parables?
14 “The sower sows the Word.
15 “And these are those who receive the seed by the wayside, in whom the Word is sown. But when they have heard it, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts.
16 “And likewise, those who receive the seed in stony ground are those who (when they have heard the Word) immediately receive it with gladness.
17 “Yet they have no root in themselves and endure but a time. For when trouble and persecution arise for the word, they fall away immediately.
18 “Also those who receive the seed among the thorns, are those who hear the Word,
19 “but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches and the lusts of other things enter in and choke the Word. And it is unfruitful.
20 “But those who have received seed in good ground, are those who hear the Word and receive it and bring forth fruit - one corn thirty, another sixty, and some a hundred.”
21 Also He said to them, “Does the candle come in to be put under a bushel, or under the bed, and not to be put in a candlestick?
22 “For there is nothing hidden that shall not be opened. Nor is there a secret that shall not come to light.
23 “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
24 And He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. With whatever measure you use, it shall be measured to you. And to you who hear shall more be given.
25 “For to him who has shall it be given. And from him that has not shall be taken away even that he has.”
26 Also He said, “So is the Kingdom of God: as if a man should cast seed in the ground
27 “and should sleep and rise up night and day. And the seed should spring and grow up, he not knowing how.
28 “For the Earth brings forth fruit from itself; first the blade, then the ears; after that, full corn in the ears.
29 “And as soon as the fruit shows itself, he puts in the sickle to it. Because the harvest has come.”
30 He said moreover, “To what shall we liken the Kingdom of God? Or, with what shall we compare it?
31 “It is like a grain of mustard seed; which, when it is sown in the earth, is the least of all seeds on the Earth.
32 “But after it is sown, it grows up and is greatest of all herbs and bears great branches. So that the birds of the heaven may build under the shadow of it.”
33 And with many such parables He preached the Word to them, as they were able to hear it.
34 And He spoke nothing to them without parables. But He expounded all things to His disciples separately.
35 Now the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us pass over to the other side.”
36 And they left the multitude and entered into a ship. And there were also other little ships with Him.
37 And a great storm of wind arose. And the waves dashed into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Master, don’t you care that we perish!?”
39 And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace, and be still!” So, the wind ceased. And there was a great calm.
40 Then He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
41 And they feared exceedingly and said one to another, “Who is this, that both the wind and the sea obey Him?”
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