Mark

Presents a fast-paced account of Jesus' actions and miracles, emphasizing His role as the suffering servant.

Chapter 4

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

*He started teaching near the ocean again, and many people came to listen. There were so many people that he got into a boat and sat in the water. Everyone else stayed on land by the sea.

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

*He explained lots of things using stories, and in his teachings, he told them.

3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

*Listen; Look, a farmer went out to plant seeds:

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 up.

*Then, while he was planting, some seeds landed in a bad spot and birds ate them.

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:

*Some landed on rocky soil with little dirt; it quickly grew since there was no deep soil to hold it back.

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

*But when the sun came out, it got burned; and since it had no deep roots, it dried up and died.

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

*Some fell among thorns, the thorns grew, and stopped it from bearing fruit.

8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

*Some fell on fertile soil, grew fruit, and multiplied; they produced 30, 60, or even 100 fruits.

9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

*He said, "Whoever can listen, should listen."

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

*When Jesus was by himself, the ones around him, including the twelve, asked him about the meaning of the story.

11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

*He told them, "You can understand the secret of God's kingdom. But others, who are not part of it, hear these teachings in stories called parables."

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.

*So they can look but not really understand, and listen but not truly comprehend. This is so they never fully realize their mistakes, and thus won't change, keeping their sins unforgiven.

13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

*He asked them, "Don't you understand this story?" How can you understand all stories if you don't even get this one?

14 The sower soweth the word.

*The person plants the message.

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.

*These people hear the word on the sidelines, but when they listen, Satan quickly takes away the message planted in their hearts.

16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

*These are also the ones who are planted in rocky soil; they hear the message and happily accept it right away.

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 are offended.

*They don't have deep foundations and only last for a while. When hard times or trouble come because of the message, they get easily upset right away.

18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

*These are the ones surrounded by weeds; they listen to the message but...

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.

*And worries from this life, and the trickiness of having lots of stuff, and desires for other things coming in, smother the message, and it becomes unproductive.

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

*These are those who plant in good soil; they listen to the message, accept it, and produce results, with some getting 30 times more, others 60 times more, and a few up to 100 times more.

21 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?

*He asked, "Is a candle meant to be hidden under a large bowl or under a bed? No, it's meant to be placed on a candlestick."

22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

*Everything hidden will be revealed, and nothing secret will remain concealed, as it all must be shown openly.

23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

*If someone can listen, they should listen.

24 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.

*He told them, "Be careful what you listen to. The way you measure for others will be measured to you. Those who listen will receive even more."

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.

*For those who have, more will be given: but for those who don't have, even what they have will be taken away.

26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

*He said, "The kingdom of God works like when a person throws seeds onto the ground."

27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

*He doesn't know how the seed grows as it sleeps during night and day, and rises with them.

28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

*The earth naturally produces fruit. It starts with a blade, then an ear, and finally, a fully developed kernel inside the ear.

29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

*But once the fruit appears, he quickly harvests it because it's harvest time.

30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

*He asked, "How can we describe the kingdom of God using an example or comparison?"

31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

*It's like a tiny mustard seed, smaller than any other seeds on earth, but when planted, it grows much bigger.

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 the shadow of it.

*But when planted, it grows large, bigger than other plants, and produces big branches; so birds can live in its shade.

33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

*He told them stories, using words they could understand.

34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

*He only used stories to teach them, and when they were by themselves, he explained everything to his followers.

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

*On that same day, when evening arrived, Jesus told his disciples, "Let's cross over to the other side."

36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

*After sending away the large crowd, they took Jesus as he was in the boat. There were also other small boats with him.

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

*A big windstorm came, and huge waves hit the boat, filling it up with water.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

*He was at the back of the boat, sleeping on a cushion. They shook him awake and asked, "Master, don't you care if we die?"

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

*He got up, stopped the wind, and told the sea to be calm. The wind stopped, and it became very peaceful.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

*He asked them, "Why are you so scared? Don't you have faith?"

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?

*They were very afraid and asked each other, "Who is this person that even the wind and sea listen to him?"

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