| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 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, | 1Some time afterward he went on through towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of 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 disabilities: Mary (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 Cuza (Herod's household manager), Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources. |
| 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: | 4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from one town after another, he spoke to them in 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"A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled on, and the wild birds devoured it. |
| 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. | 6Other seed fell on rock, and when it came up, it withered because it had no moisture. |
| 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. | 7Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up with it and choked it. |
| 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.” | 8But other seed fell on good soil and grew, and it produced a hundred times as much grain." As he said this, he called out, "The one who has ears to hear had better listen!" |
| 9His disciples asked him what this parable meant. | 9Then his disciples asked him 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.’ | 10He said, "You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that although they see they may not see, and although they hear they may not understand. |
| 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. | 11"Now the parable means 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. | 12Those along the path are the ones who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may 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. | 13Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in a time of testing 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. | 14As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. |
| 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 | 15But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing the word, cling to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance. |
| 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"No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in can 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. | 17For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought 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 | 18So listen carefully, for whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him." |
| 19Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd. | 19Now Jesus' mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not get near him because of the crowd. |
| 20Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.” | 20So he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting 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 replied to them, "My mother and my brothers are those 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. | 22One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, "Let's go across to the other side of the lake." So they set 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. | 23and as they sailed he fell asleep. Now a violent windstorm came down on the lake, and the boat started filling up with water, and they were 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 and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are about to die!" So he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they died down, and it was 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 | 25Then he said to them, "Where is your faith?" But they were afraid and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this? 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. | 26So they sailed over to the region 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. | 27As Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man from the town met him who was possessed by demons. For a long time this man had worn no clothes and had not lived in a house, but among 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!” | 28When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and shouted with a loud voice, "Leave me alone, 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 Jesus had started commanding the evil spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, so he would be bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard. But he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.) |
| 30Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. | 30Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion," because many demons had entered him. |
| 31The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. | 31And they began to beg him not to order them to depart 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 a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and the demonic spirits begged Jesus to let them go into them. 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. | 33So the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd of pigs rushed down the steep slope into the lake and 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 off and spread the news in the town and countryside. |
| 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. | 35So the people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus. They found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. |
| 36Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. | 36Those who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed. |
| 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. | 37Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and left. |
| 38The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, | 38The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus 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 home, and declare what God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town what Jesus had done for him. |
| 40On the other side of the lake the crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for him. | 40Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, because they were all 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. | 41Then a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue, came up. Falling at Jesus' feet, he pleaded with 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. | 42because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds pressed around him. |
| 43A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. | 43Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years but could not be healed by anyone. |
| 44Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. | 44She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak, and at once the bleeding stopped. |
| 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.” | 45Then Jesus asked, "Who was it who touched me?" When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing against you!" |
| 46But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” | 46But Jesus said, "Someone touched me, for I know that power has gone out from 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 could not escape notice, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she explained 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.” | 48Then 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 from the synagogue ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer." |
| 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 told him, "Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." |
| 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. | 51Now when he came to the house, Jesus did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child'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 wailing and mourning for her, but he said, "Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep." |
| 53But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. | 53And they began making fun of him, because they knew that she was dead. |
| 54Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!” | 54But Jesus gently took her by the hand and said, "Child, get up." |
| 55And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. | 55Her spirit returned, and she got up immediately. Then he told them to give her something to eat. |
| 56Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened. | 56Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened. |
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