Mark 4:10-25

New American Bible (Revised Edition)

The Purpose of the Parables. ¹⁰ And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. ^11 [a]He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, ¹² so that

^13 [b]Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?^(B) Then how will you understand any of the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. ¹⁶ And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. ¹⁷ But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ¹⁸ Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, ¹⁹ but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. ²⁰ But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

Parable of the Lamp. ^21 (C)He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?^{(D) 22} For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.^{(E) 23} Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” ²⁴ He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.^{(F) 25} To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”^(G)