Mark 4 NKJV NLT Parallel

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1And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.

1Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore.

2Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:

2He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

3“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.

3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.

4And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.

4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.

5Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.

5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.

6But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.

6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died.

7And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.

7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.

8But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

9And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

9Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

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

10Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.

11And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,

11He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,

12so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’ ”

12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.’ ”

13And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

13Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?

14The sower sows the word.

14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.

15And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.

16These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.

17and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.

17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

18Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,

18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word,

19and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

20But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Parable of the Lamp

21Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?

21Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.

22For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.

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

23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

24Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.

24Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given —and you will receive even more.

25For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” Parable of the Growing Seed

26And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,

26Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.

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

27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.

28For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.

28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.

29But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.” Parable of the Mustard Seed

30Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?

30Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?

31It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth;

31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds,

32but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”

32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”

33And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.

33Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand.

34But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

34In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them. Jesus Calms the Storm

35On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”

35As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”

36Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.

36So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).

37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

37But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

38But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

38Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

39Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

39When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.

40But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

40Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

41The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

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