Marcos 4

¹ And he began again to teach by theSeaside of Tiberias.sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and satIn a ship which was launched into the sea.in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

² And he taught them many things in parables, and said vnto them in his doctrine,

³ The same doctrine of the Gospel is sown everywhere, but it it does not have the same success indeed because of the fault of man, but yet by the just judgment of God.Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

⁴ And it came to passe as he sowed, that some fell by the way side, and the foules of the heauen came, and deuoured it vp.

⁵ And some fell on stonie grounde, where it had not much earth, and by and by sprang vp, because it had not depth of earth.

⁶ But assoone as ye Sunne was vp, it was burnt vp, and because it had not roote, it withered away.

⁷ And some fell among the thornes, and the thornes grewe vp, and choked it, so that it gaue no fruite.

⁸ Some againe fell in good grounde, and did yeelde fruite that sprong vp, and grewe, and it brought foorth, some thirtie folde, some sixtie folde, and some an hundreth folde.

⁹ Then he said vnto them, He that hath eares to heare, let him heare.

¹⁰ And when he wasLiterally, «solitary».alone, they that wereThey that followed him at his heels.about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

¹¹ And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that areThat is to say, to strangers, and such ones as are not of us.without, all [these] things are done in parables:

¹² That they seeing, may see, and not discerne: and they hearing, may heare, and not vnderstand, least at any time they should turne, and their sinnes should be forgiuen them.

¹³ Againe he said vnto them, Perceiue ye not this parable? howe then should ye vnderstand all other parables?

¹⁴ The sower soweth the worde.

¹⁵ And these are they that receiue the seede by the wayes side, in whome the worde is sowen: but when they haue heard it, Satan commeth immediatly, and taketh away the worde that was sowen in their heartes.

¹⁶ And likewise they that receiue the seede in stony ground, are they, which whe they haue heard the word, straightwayes receiue it with gladnesse.

¹⁷ Yet haue they no roote in themselues, and endure but a time: for when trouble and persecution ariseth for the worde, immediatly they be offended.

¹⁸ Also they that receiue the seede among the thornes, are such as heare the word:

¹⁹ And the caresWhich pertain to this life.of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

²⁰ But they that haue receiued seede in good ground, are they that heare the worde, and receiue it, and bring foorth fruite: one corne thirtie, another sixtie, and some an hundreth.

²¹ Although the light of the gospel is rejected by the world, yet it ought to be lit, if for no other reason than this, that the wickedness of the world might be revealed.And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

²² For there is nothing hid, that shall not be opened: neither is there a secret, but that it shall come to light.

²³ If any man haue eares to heare, let him heare.

²⁴ The more liberally that we share such gifts as God has given us with our brethren, the more bountiful God will be toward us.And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

²⁵ For vnto him that hath, shall it be giuen, and from him that hath not, shall be taken away, euen that he hath.

²⁶ The Lord sows and reaps in a manner unknown to men.And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

²⁷ AndThat is, when he has finished sowing should wait both day and night not doubting that the seed should spring forth, which grows both by day and night.should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, heIt is the duty of the ministers to work the ground with all diligence, and accredit the success to God: for the mighty work of the seed coming to blade and ear is mysterious, and is only known by the fruit that comes.knoweth not how.

²⁸ For the earth bringeth forth fruitBy a certain power which moves itself.of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

²⁹ And assoone as the fruite sheweth it selfe, anon hee putteth in the sickle, because the haruest is come.

³⁰ God uses a method that men never do, beginning with the least and ending with the greatest.And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

³¹ It is like a graine of mustarde seede, which when it is sowen in the earth, is the least of all seedes that be in the earth:

³² But after that it is sowen, it groweth vp, and is greatest of all herbes, and beareth great branches, so that the foules of heauen may builde vnder the shadow of it.

³³ And with many such parables spake he the word unto them,According to the ability of the hearers.as they were able to hear [it].

³⁴ But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, heLiterally, «loosed», as you would say, explained to them the hard riddles.expounded all things to his disciples.

³⁵ Nowe the same day when euen was come, he saide vnto them, Let vs passe ouer vnto the other side.

³⁶ And they left the multitude, and tooke him as he was in the shippe, and there were also with him other little shippes.

³⁷ They that sail with Christ, although he seems to sleep ever so soundly when they are in danger, yet they are preserved by him in due time, being awakened.And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

³⁸ And he was in the sterne asleepe on a pillow: and they awoke him, and saide to him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

³⁹ And hee rose vp, and rebuked the winde, and saide vnto the sea, Peace, and be still. So the winde ceased, and it was a great calme.

⁴⁰ And he said unto them,How does it come to pass that you have no faith?Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

⁴¹ And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who is this, that both the winde and sea obey him?