New Living Translation

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him,

1Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him,

2along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons;

2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

3Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed

3and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

4One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him:

4When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:

5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it.

5"The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up.

6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture.

6"Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants.

7"Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.

8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

8"Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As He said these things, He would call out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

9His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

9His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.

10He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’

10And He said, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word.

11"Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.

12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.

12"Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.

13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.

13"Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.

14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.

14"The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. Parable of the Lamp

15"But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

16 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.

16"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.

17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.

17"For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” The True Family of Jesus

18"So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him."

19Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd.

19And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd.

20Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.”

20And it was reported to Him, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You."

21Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.” Jesus Calms the Storm

21But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."

22One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out.

22Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they launched out.

23As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.

23But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger.

24The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm.

24They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm.

25Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!” Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man

25And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?"

26So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee.

26Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.

27As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town.

27And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs.

28As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!”

28Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me."

29For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.

29For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.

30Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons.

30And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him.

31The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.

31They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.

32There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission.

32Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission.

33Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.

33And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

34When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran.

34When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country.

35People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.

35The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened.

36Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed.

36Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well.

37And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake.

37And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat and returned.

38The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying,

38But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying,

39 “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him. Jesus Heals in Response to Faith

39"Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

40On the other side of the lake the crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for him.

40And as Jesus returned, the people welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him.

41Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come home with him.

41And there came a man named Jairus, and he was an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus' feet, and began to implore Him to come to his house;

42His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds.

42for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him.

43A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure.

43And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone,

44Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.

44came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.

45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”

45And Jesus said, "Who is the one who touched Me?" And while they were all denying it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You."

46But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.”

46But Jesus said, "Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me."

47When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed.

47When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed.

48 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

48And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

49While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”

49While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore."

50But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”

50But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, "Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well."

51When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother.

51When He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl's father and mother.

52The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

52Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, "Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep."

53But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died.

53And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died.

54Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!”

54He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Child, arise!"

55And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

55And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat.

56Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.

56Her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

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.

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