Mark:4

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* And 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 . * Then He taught them many things by parables , and said to them in His teaching : * "Listen ! Behold , a sower went out to sow . * And it happened , as he sowed , that some seed fell by the wayside ; and the birds of the air came and devoured it . * Some fell on stony ground , where it did not have much earth ; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth . * But when the sun was up it was scorched , and because it had no root it withered away . * And some seed fell among thorns ; and the thorns grew up and choked it , and it yielded no crop . * But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up , increased and produced : some thirtyfold , some sixty , and some a hundred ." * And He said to them , "He who has ears to hear , let him hear !" * But when He was alone , those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable . * And 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 , * so 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 ."' * And He said to them , "Do you not understand this parable ? How then will you understand all the parables ? * The sower sows the word . * And 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 . * These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who , when they hear the word , immediately receive it with gladness ; * and 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 . * Now these are the ones sown among thorns ; they are the ones who hear the word , * and the cares of this world , the deceitfulness of riches , and the desires for other things entering in choke the word , and it becomes unfruitful . * But 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 ." * Also 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 ? * For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed , nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light . * If anyone has ears to hear , let him hear ." * Then 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 . * For whoever has , to him more will be given ; but whoever does not have , even what he has will be taken away from him ." * And He said , "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground , * and should sleep by night and rise by day , and the seed should sprout and grow , he himself does not know how . * For the earth yields crops by itself : first the blade , then the head , after that the full grain in the head . * But when the grain ripens , immediately he puts in the sickle , because the harvest has come ." * Then He said , "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God ? Or with what parable shall we picture it ? * It is like a mustard seed which , when it is sown on the ground , is smaller than all the seeds on earth ; * but 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 ." * And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it . * But without a parable He did not speak to them . And when they were alone , He explained all things to His disciples . * On the same day , when evening had come , He said to them , "Let us cross over to the other side ." * Now when they had left the multitude , they took Him along in the boat as He was . And other little boats were also with Him . * And a great windstorm arose , and the waves beat into the boat , so that it was already filling . * But 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 ?" * Then He arose and rebuked the wind , and said to the sea , "Peace , be still !" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm . * But He said to them , "Why are you so fearful ? How is it that you have no faith ?" * And they feared exceedingly , and said to one another , "Who can this be , that even the wind and the sea obey Him !"

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