New King James Version

English Standard Version

1And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.

1Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land.

2Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:

2And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:

3“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.

3“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.

4And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.

4And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.

5Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.

5Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil.

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

6And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.

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

7Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.

8But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

8And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

9And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

9And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

10But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.

10And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.

11And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,

11And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,

12so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’ ”

12so that “‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”

13And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

13And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

14The sower sows the word.

14The sower sows the word.

15And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

15And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.

16These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

16And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.

17and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.

17And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.

18Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,

18And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word,

19and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

19but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

20But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

20But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

21Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?

21And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?

22For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

22For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.

23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.

24And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.

25For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

25For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

26And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,

26And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.

27and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.

27He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.

28For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.

28The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

29But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

29But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

30Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?

30And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?

31It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth;

31It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,

32but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”

32yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

33And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.

33With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.

34But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

34He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

35On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”

35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”

36Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.

36And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.

37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

38But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

39Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

40He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

41And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.