4:1 And he began again to teach by the sea-side: and there was
gathered to him a great multitude, so that he entered into a
boat, and sat on the sea; and the whole multitude was by the
sea, on the land.
4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said to them
in his doctrine,
4:3 Hearken; Behold, a sower went out to sow:
4:4 And it came to pass as he sowed, some fell by the way-side,
and the fowls of the air came and devoured it.
4:5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth;
and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth.
4:6 But when the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it
had no root, it withered away.
4:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and
choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
4:8 And other fell on good ground, and yielded fruit that sprang
up, and increased, and brought forth, some thirty, and some
sixty, and some a hundred.
4:9 And he said to them, He that hath ears to hear, let him
hear.
4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him, with the
twelve, asked of him the parable.
4:11 And he said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery
of the kingdom of God: but to them that are without, all
[these] things are done in parables:
4:12 That 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.
4:13 And he said to them, Know ye not this parable? and how then
will ye know all parables?
4:14 The sower soweth the word.
4:15 And 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.
4:16 And these are they likewise who are sown on stony ground;
who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with
gladness;
4:17 And 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 relapse.
4:18 And these are they who are sown among thorns; such as hear
the word,
4:19 And 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.
4:20 And these are they who are sown on good ground; such as
hear the word, and receive [it], and bring forth fruit, some
thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred.
4:21 And he said to them, Is a candle brought to be put under a
close vessel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a
candlestick?
4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested;
neither hath any thing been kept secret, but that it should
come abroad.
4:23 If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear.
4:24 And he said to them, Take heed what ye hear: With the
measure which ye give, it shall be measured to you: and to you
that hear shall more be given.
4:25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath
not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
4:26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should
cast seed into the ground;
4:27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed
should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
4:28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of itself; first the
blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
4:29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth
in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
4:30 And he said, To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? or
with what comparison shall we compare it?
4:31 [It is] like a grain of mustard-seed, which, when it is
sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the
earth.
4:32 But 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 its shade.
4:33 And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as
they were able to hear [it].
4:34 But without a parable he spoke not to them: and when they
were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
4:35 And the same day, when the evening was come, he saith to
them, Let us pass over to the other side.
4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him
even as he was in the boat. And there were also with him other
small boats.
4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat
into the boat, so that it was now full.
4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the boat, asleep on a
pillow: and they awake him, and say to him, Master, carest thou
not that we perish?
4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea,
Peace, be still: and the wind ceased, and there was a great
calm.
4:40 And he said to them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that
ye have no faith?
4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What
manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
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