The Parable Of The Sower
1 And again he began to teach by the sea, and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he, having gone into the boat, sat in the sea, and all the multitude was near the sea, on the land,
1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
1 (A)He began to teach again (B)by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that (C)He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.
1 Again(A) He began to teach(B) by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea.
1 Then Jesus began to teach again beside the sea. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while the entire crowd remained beside the sea on the shore.
4 and it came to pass, in the sowing, some fell by the way, and the fowls of the heaven did come and devour it;
4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
4 as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up.
4 As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path,(F) and the birds came and ate(G) it up.
4 As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and birds came and ate them up.
5 and other fell upon the rocky ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprang forth, because of not having depth of earth,
5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
5 Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil.
5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it sprang up right away,(H) since it didn’t have deep soil.
5 Others fell on stony ground, where they didn't have a lot of soil. They sprouted at once, because the soil wasn't deep.
6 and the sun having risen, it was scorched, and because of not having root it did wither;
6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
6 And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
6 But when the sun came up, they were scorched. Since they didn't have any roots, they dried up.
7 and other fell toward the thorns, and the thorns did come up, and choke it, and fruit it gave not;
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.
7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce a crop.
7 Others fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes came up and choked them out, and they didn't produce anything.
8 and other fell to the good ground, and was giving fruit, coming up and increasing, and it bare, one thirty-fold, and one sixty, and one an hundred.'
8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
8 Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”
8 Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased(J) 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”(K)
8 But others fell on good soil and produced a crop. They grew up, increased in size, and produced 30, 60, or 100 times what was sown."
The Reason For The Parables
10 And when he was alone, those about him, with the twelve, did ask him of the simile,
10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
10 As soon as He was alone, (b)His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables.
10 When he was alone with the Twelve and those around him, they began to ask him about the parables.
11 and he said to them, 'To you it hath been given to know the secret of the reign of God, but to those who are without, in similes are all the things done;
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but (F)those who are outside get everything (G)in parables,
11 He answered them, “The secret(O) of the kingdom of God(P) has been given to you, but to those outside,(Q) everything comes in parables
11 He told them, "The secret about the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside, everything comes in parables
12 that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest they may turn, and the sins may be forgiven them.'
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
12 so that (H)while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.”
12 so thatthey may look and look,yet not perceive;they may listen and listen,yet not understand;(R)otherwise, they might turn back—and be forgiven.”(a)(S)(b)
12 so that "they may see clearly but not perceive, and they may hear clearly but not understand, otherwise they might turn around and be forgiven.'"
The Parable Of The Sower Interpreted
13 And he saith to them, 'Have ye not known this simile? and how shall ye know all the similes?
13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
13 (I)And He *said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?
13 Then(T) He said to them: “Don’t you understand this parable?(U) How then will you understand any of the parables?
13 Then he told them, "You don't understand this parable, so how can you understand any of the parables?
15 and these are they by the way where the word is sown: and whenever they may hear, immediately cometh the Adversary, and he taketh away the word that hath been sown in their hearts.
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
15 These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately (J)Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
15 These(c) are the ones along the path(X) where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan(Y) comes and takes away the word(Z) sown in them.(d)
15 Some people are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. When they hear it, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
16 'And these are they, in like manner, who on the rocky ground are sown: who, whenever they may hear the word, immediately with joy do receive it,
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
16 In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy;
16 And these are(e) the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.(AA)
16 Others are like the seeds sown on the stony ground. When they hear the word, at once they joyfully accept it,
17 and have not root in themselves, but are temporary; afterward tribulation or persecution having come because of the word, immediately they are stumbled.
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they (c)fall away.
17 But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When pressure(AB) or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.(AC)
17 but since they don't have any roots, they last for only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes along because of the word, they immediately fall away.
18 'And these are they who toward the thorns are sown: these are they who are hearing the word,
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
18 And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word,
18 Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word,
18 Still others are like the seeds sown among the thorn bushes. These are the people who hear the word,
19 and the anxieties of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, and the desires concerning the other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
19 but the worries of (K)the (d)world, and the (L)deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
19 but the worries(AD) of this age,(AE) the seduction(f)(AF) of wealth,(AG) and the desires(AH) for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.(AI)
19 but the worries of life, the deceitful pleasures of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word so that it can't produce a crop.
20 'And these are they who on the good ground have been sown: who do hear the word, and receive, and do bear fruit, one thirty-fold, and one sixty, and one an hundred.'
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
20 And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and (M)bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”
20 But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word,(AJ) welcome it, and produce a crop:(AK) 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.”
20 Others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, accept it, and produce crops 30, 60, or 100 times what was sown."
The Parable Of The Lamp
21 And he said to them, 'Doth the lamp come that under the measure it may be put, or under the couch -- not that it may be put on the lamp-stand?
21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
21 And He was saying to them, “(N)A lamp is not brought to be put under a (e)basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?
21 He(AL) also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed?(AM) Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?(AN)
21 Then Jesus told them, "A lamp isn't brought indoors to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? It's to be put on a lamp stand, isn't it?
22 for there is not anything hid that may not be manifested, nor was anything kept hid but that it may come to light.
22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
22 (O)For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.
22 Nothing is hidden except for the purpose of having it revealed, and nothing is secret except for the purpose of having it come to light.
24 And he said to them, 'Take heed what ye hear; in what measure ye measure, it shall be measured to you; and to you who hear it shall be added;
24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
24 And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. (f)(Q)By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.
24 Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure(AQ) you use,(g)(AR) it will be measured and added(AS) to you.
24 He went on to say to them, "Pay attention to what you're hearing! You will be evaluated by the same standard with which you do your evaluating, and still more will be given to you,
25 for whoever may have, there shall be given to him, and whoever hath not, also that which he hath shall be taken from him.'
25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
25 (R)For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”
25 For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”(AT)
25 because whoever has something, will have more given to him. But whoever has nothing, even what he has will be taken away."
The Parable Of The Seed That Grows By Itself
26 And he said, 'Thus is the reign of God: as if a man may cast the seed on the earth,
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
26 And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;
26 He was also saying, "The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seeds on the ground.
27 and may sleep, and may rise night and day, and the seed spring up and grow, he hath not known how;
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
27 and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know.
27 he sleeps(AV) and rises(AW)—night(AX) and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he doesn’t know how.
27 He sleeps and gets up night and day while the seeds sprout and grow, although he doesn't know how
28 for of itself doth the earth bear fruit, first a blade, afterwards an ear, afterwards full corn in the ear;
28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
28 The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head.
28 The soil produces a crop(AY) by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain(AZ) on the head.
28 the ground produces grain by itself first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.
29 and whenever the fruit may yield itself, immediately he doth send forth the sickle, because the harvest hath come.'
29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
29 But when the crop permits, he immediately (g)(S)puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
29 But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle,(BA) because the harvest(BB) has come.”
29 But when the grain is ripe, he immediately starts cutting with his sickle because the harvest time has come."
The Parable Of The Mustard Seed
30 And he said, 'To what may we liken the reign of God, or in what simile may we compare it?
30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
30 (T)And He said, “How shall we (h)(U)picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it?
30 And(BC) He said: “How can we illustrate the kingdom of God,(BD) or what parable(BE) can we use to describe it?
30 He was also saying, "How can we show what the kingdom of God is like, or what parable can we use to describe it?
31 As a grain of mustard, which, whenever it may be sown on the earth, is less than any of the seeds that are on the earth;
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil,
31 It’s like a mustard seed(BF) that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground.
31 It's like a mustard seed planted in the ground. Although it's the smallest of all the seeds on earth,
32 and whenever it may be sown, it cometh up, and doth become greater than any of the herbs, and doth make great branches, so that under its shade the fowls of the heaven are able to rest.'
32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that (V)the birds of the (i)air can nest under its shade.”
32 And when sown,(BG) it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables,(BH) and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky(BI) can nest in its shade.”
32 when it's planted it comes up and becomes larger than all the garden plants. It grows such large branches that the birds in the sky can nest in its shade."
Using Parables
33 And with many such similes he was speaking to them the word, as they were able to hear,
33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
33 With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it;
33 He would speak the word(BJ) to them with many parables(BK) like these, as they were able to understand.(BL)
33 With many other parables like these, Jesus kept speaking his message to them according to their ability to understand.
34 and without a simile he was not speaking to them, and by themselves, to his disciples he was expounding all.
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
34 and He did not speak to them (W)without a parable; but He was (X)explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
34 And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.(BM)
34 He did not tell them anything without using a parable, though he explained everything to his disciples in private.
Calming Of A Storm
35 And he saith to them on that day, evening having come, 'We may pass over to the other side;'
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
35 On(BN) that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.”
35 That day, when evening had come, he told them, "Let's cross to the other side."
36 and having let away the multitude, they take him up as he was in the boat, and other little boats also were with him.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
36 (j)Leaving the crowd, they *took Him along with them (Z)in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him.
36 So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was already in the boat. And other boats were with Him.
36 So they left the crowd and took him away in a boat without making any special preparations. Other boats were with him.
37 And there cometh a great storm of wind, and the waves were beating on the boat, so that it is now being filled,
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
37 And there *arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up.
37 A fierce windstorm(BO) arose, and the waves(BP) were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.
37 A violent windstorm came up, and the waves began breaking into the boat, so that the boat was rapidly becoming swamped.
38 and he himself was upon the stern, upon the pillow sleeping, and they wake him up, and say to him, 'Teacher, art thou not caring that we perish?'
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
38 Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they *woke Him and *said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
38 But He was in the stern, sleeping(BQ) on the cushion. So they woke Him up(BR) and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?”(BS)
38 But Jesus was in the back of the boat, asleep on a cushion. So they woke him up and asked him, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to die?"
39 And having waked up, he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, be stilled;' and the wind did lull, and there was a great calm:
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
39 And He got up and (AA)rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and (k)it became perfectly calm.
39 He got up, rebuked(BT) the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence!(BU) Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
39 Then he got up, rebuked the wind, and told the sea, "Calm down! Be still!" Then the wind stopped blowing, and there was a great calm.
41 and they feared a great fear, and said one to another, 'Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea do obey him?'
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
41 They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
41 And they were terrified(BW) and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey(BX) Him!”(BY)
41 Overcome with fear, they kept saying to one another, "Who is this man? Even the wind and the sea obey him!"