Mark 4

1. Then He again began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude gathered together to Him, so that He went aboard the ship and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land by the sea.

2. And He taught them many things in parables, and said to them in His teaching,

3. “Listen well to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow.

4. And it happened that as he was sowing, one seed fell by the way; and the birds of heaven came and devoured it.

5. And another seed fell on a rocky place, where it did not have much soil; and it quickly sprang up, because it did not have depth of soil;

6. But after the sun rose, it was scorched; and because it did not have root, it withered away.

7. And another seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it did not yield any fruit.

8. And others fell into the good ground and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and one brought forth thirtyfold, and one sixtyfold, and one a hundredfold.”

9. Then He said to them, “The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

10. Now when He was alone, those who were around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.

11. And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are without, all things are done in parables;

12. So that in seeing they may see, and not perceive; and in hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.”

13. And He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? Then how will you know all the other parables?

14. The sower sows the Word.

15. Now the ones by the way, where the Word was sown, these are the ones who hear, but Satan comes at once and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts.

16. And the ones which were in like manner sown upon the rocky places, these are the ones who when they hear the Word, immediately receive it with joy;

17. But because they have no root in themselves, they do not endure; when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, they are quickly offended.

18. And those which were sown among the thorns, these are the ones who hear the Word,

19. But the cares of this life, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things that come into their lives choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.

20. Now those which were sown upon the good ground, these are the ones who hear the Word and receive it, and bring forth fruit, one thirtyfold, and one sixtyfold, and one a hundredfold.”

21. And He said to them, “Is a lamp lit to be put under a bushelbasket or under a bed? Is it not rather lit to be put on a lampstand?

22. For there is nothing hidden that shall not be made manifest; nor has any secret thing taken place, but that it should come to light.

23. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24. And He said to them, “Take heed to what you hear: for with whatever measure you use, it shall be measured back to you; and to those who hear, it shall be added.

25. For whoever has, to him shall more be given; but the one who does not have, even that which he has shall be taken from him.”

26. Then He said, “The kingdom of God is likened to this: It is as if a man should cast seed upon the earth,

27. And should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, but he does not know how.

28. For the earth brings forth fruit of itself, first a blade, then a head, then full grain in the head.

29. And when the grain is mature, immediately he puts in the sickle, for the harvest has come.”

30. And He said, “To what then shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we compare it?

31. It is like a tiny mustard seed, which, when it has been sown upon the earth, is less than all the seeds that are upon the earth

32. But after it has been sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the herbs, and produces great branches, so that the birds of heaven are able to roost under the shadow of it.”

33. And with many such parables He spoke the Word to them, as they were able to hear;

34. For without a parable He did not speak to them; but He explained all things to His disciples privately.

35. Now on the same day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.”

36. And after dismissing the multitude, they took Him with them, as He was already in the ship; and there were many other small ships with Him also.

37. And a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were crashing into the ship so forcefully that it was rapidly filling up.

38. Now He was at the stern sleeping on a cushion. And they aroused Him, and said to Him, “Master, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

39. And after being awakened, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still.” And the wind died, and there was a great calm.

40. And He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? Why do you not have faith?”

41. But they were afraid, and said to one another in great fear, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”