Mark 4

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.

Once more, he started teaching by the ocean. A crowd so large gathered around him that he had to board a boat and teach from there, while they remained on the shore, listening intently.

And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

He passionately shared many life lessons through stories, expressing his teachings to them.

Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

Listen closely; Look, a farmer went out to plant his seeds.

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.

As he scattered the seeds, some landed on the path where birds swooped down and ate them.

And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

Some seeds landed on rocky soil, where there wasn't much dirt. They quickly sprouted because they couldn't root deeply.

But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

As the sun rose, it was harshly burnt; lacking roots, it sadly shriveled up.

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

Some seeds landed among thistles, which overpowered them, leaving them fruitless.

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.

Some seeds found fertile soil, flourishing and multiplying, producing a bounty of thirty, sixty, even a hundred times what was sown.

And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

He gently reminded them, "If you can listen, truly listen."

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

When he found himself alone, his close companions and the twelve disciples, filled with curiosity, asked him to explain the parable.

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:

He told them, "You are blessed with understanding God's kingdom's secrets. But for those outside, everything is wrapped in stories and metaphors."

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.

Even when they look, they may not truly see; even when they listen, they may not truly understand. This is so they may not change their ways and receive forgiveness for their wrongs.

And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

He asked them, "Don't you understand this story? If not, how will you grasp any of the others?"

The sower soweth the word.

The messenger passionately spreads the divine message.

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.

These are the people who hear God's message, but as soon as they do, Satan swoops in quickly, stealing away the message from their hearts.

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

These are like seeds sown on rocky soil; they joyfully embrace the word when they hear it, but it doesn't take root.

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.

They lack deep faith, so they only believe temporarily. When troubles or criticisms come because of the word, they quickly get upset.

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

These are the ones who hear God's message, but life's worries and desires choke it, like seeds lost among thorns.

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.

The worries of life, the allure of wealth, and the desire for worldly things can suffocate the truth, making it barren.

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.

Those who are rooted in fertile soil are the ones who truly listen and accept the word. They flourish, producing a bounty of goodness, varying in abundance from thirty, sixty, to even a hundred times over.

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?

He asked them, "Would you hide a lit candle under a basket or a bed? Shouldn't it be placed on a candlestick to shine?"

For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

Everything hidden will eventually be revealed; no secret can stay hidden forever.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

If anyone can truly listen, then they should.

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.

He gently warned them, "Be careful about what you listen to. The same standards you use for others will be applied to you. And if you truly listen, you'll receive even more."

For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

Those who are blessed with abundance will receive even more. But those who have little, even that will be taken away.

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

He expressed, "God's kingdom is like a man who sows seeds into the earth."

And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

Even as you rest each night and wake each day, the seed you've planted mysteriously sprouts and grows, its workings beyond your understanding.

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

The earth naturally nurtures her own growth; first comes the sprout, then the bud, and finally, the full grain in the bud.

But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

As soon as the fruit is ripe, he eagerly reaps it, for it's time for the harvest.

And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

He asked, "How can we describe God's kingdom? What can we compare it to?"

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:

It's like a tiny mustard seed, that when planted, is the smallest of all seeds on earth.

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.

When planted, it sprouts and grows, becoming the largest of all plants. It produces big branches, offering shelter to birds in its shade.

And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

He shared many stories and teachings, speaking to them in ways they could understand and absorb.

But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

He always used stories when speaking to the crowd, but in private, he explained everything to his disciples with great care and patience.

And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

On that very day, as evening fell, he gently suggested to them, "Let's journey together to the other side."

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.

After dismissing the crowd, they escorted him, just as he was, onto the boat. Alongside him, there were also other small boats.

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

Suddenly, a fierce storm erupted, the wind howled, and the waves crashed violently against the ship, filling it to the brim.

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?

In the back of the boat, he was peacefully sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up, fearfully asking, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

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.

He stood up, sternly quieted the wind, and commanded the sea, "Quiet, be still." Immediately, the wind stopped, and a profound peace filled the air.

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

He looked at them, puzzled, "Why are you so scared? Don't you trust?"

And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

They were overwhelmed with awe, whispering among themselves, "Who is this man who commands even the wind and sea?"