New Living Translation

King James Bible

1Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake.

1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

2A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.

2And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.

3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.

4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

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

5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

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

6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.

7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

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

8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

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

9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.

11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.

12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13 That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.

14And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’

15For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.

16But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.

17For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:

18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.

19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

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

20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 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.

21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.

22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Parable of the Wheat and Weeds

23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

24Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.

24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.

25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27 “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’

27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28 “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. “‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do.

29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’” Parable of the Mustard Seed

30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

31Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.

31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” Parable of the Yeast

32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

33Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

33Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

34Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.

34All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

35This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: “I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world. ” Parable of the Wheat and Weeds Explained

35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

36Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

37Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed.

37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.

38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.

39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

40 “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world.

40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.

41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it! Parable of the Fishing Net

46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

47 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.

47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

48 When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away.

48Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

49 That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous,

49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

50 throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

51 Do you understand all these things?” “Yes,” they said, “we do.”

51Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

52Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.” Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

52Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

53When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country.

53And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

54He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?”

54And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

55Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.

55Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

56All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?”

56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

57And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.”

57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

58And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.

58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

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.