New Living Translation

King James Bible

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.

1And 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.

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

2And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

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

3Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

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

4And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

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

5And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

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

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

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

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

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!”

8And 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.

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

9And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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

10And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

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

11And 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:

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.’ ”

12That 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.

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

13And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

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

14The sower soweth the word.

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.

15And 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.

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

16And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

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.

17And 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.

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

18And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

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.

19And 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.

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

20And 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.

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.

21And 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?

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

22For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

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

23If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

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.

24And 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.

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

25For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

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

26And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

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

27And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

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.

28For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

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

29But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

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

30And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

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

31It 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:

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

32But 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.

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

33And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

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

34But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

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

35And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

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

36And 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.

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

37And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

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?”

38And 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?

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.

39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

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

40And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

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

41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.