馬可福音 4
Chinese Standard Bible (Traditional)
撒種的比喻
4 又一次，耶穌開始在湖邊[a]教導人。有一大群人聚集到他那裡，所以他上了湖中的一條船坐下來。眾人都在岸邊，面對湖站著。 2 耶穌用比喻教導他們很多事，在教導時對他們說： 3 「你們當聽好：看哪，有一個撒種的出去撒種。 4 他撒的時候，有的種子落在路邊，[b]飛鳥來了，就把它吃掉了。 5 另有落在岩石地上的，那裡沒有多少泥土，它立刻就發芽了，因為土不深； 6 當太陽升起，它被暴曬，就枯萎了，因為沒有根。 7 另有落進荊棘叢裡的，荊棘長起來把它擠住，它就結不出果實了。 8 可是另有落進好土壤裡的，就發芽、生長，不斷地結出果實，結出的有三十倍的、有六十倍的、有一百倍的。」 9 耶穌說：「凡是有耳可聽的，就應當聽！」
用比喻的原因
10 耶穌獨自一人的時候，跟隨他的人與十二使徒[c]一起問他這些比喻的意思。 11 耶穌對他們說：「神國的奧祕已經賜給你們了[d]，但是對外人，一切都是用比喻的。 12 這是為要使
解明撒種的比喻
13 耶穌對他們說：「你們不明白這個比喻，又怎麼能領會所有的比喻呢？ 14 撒種的人所撒的是話語。 15 那被撒上話語的『路邊之地』是這樣一些人：他們聽了話語以後，撒旦就立刻來把那撒在他們心裡[g]的話語奪走。 16 [h]那被撒上話語的『岩石地』是這樣一些人：他們一旦聽了這話語，就立刻懷著喜樂的心接受了它； 17 可是他們裡面沒有根而不能持久，一旦為這話語受患難或逼迫，他們立刻就放棄[i]了。 18 那被撒進話語的『荊棘叢』是另外一些人，那些人是這樣的：他們聽了這話語， 19 但今世的各種憂慮、財富的迷惑，以及其他各種欲望紛紛進來把這話語擠住了，他就成了不結果實的。 20 而那被撒上話語的『好土壤』是這樣的人：他們聽了這話語就接受，並且結出果實來，有三十倍的，有六十倍的，也有一百倍的。」
油燈的比喻
21 耶穌又對他們說：「油燈拿進來，難道是為了放在斗[j]底下，或床底下嗎？不是為了放在燈臺上嗎？ 22 這樣，就算是隱祕的事，也沒有不顯明出來的；即使是隱藏的事，也沒有不顯露出來的。 23 凡是有耳可聽的，就應當聽！」 24 耶穌又說：「你們要留心所聽到的。你們用什麼量器[k]來衡量，也會同樣地被衡量，而且還將加添給你們[l]； 25 因為凡是有的，還要賜給他；凡是沒有的，連他有的也將從他那裡被拿走。」
種子生長的比喻
26 耶穌又說：「神的國就像這樣：有人在地上撒了種子， 27 黑夜白晝，或睡或起，他卻不知道那種子怎樣發芽和長大。 28 大地自然長出五穀[m]——先長苗，再吐穗，然後穗上結出飽滿的子粒。 29 當果實成熟的時候，他立刻伸出鐮刀，因為收割的季節到了。」
芥菜種的比喻
30 耶穌又說：「我們把神的國比做什麼呢？用什麼比喻來表明[n]它呢？ 31 它好像一粒芥菜種子，被種入地裡的時候，比地上所有的種子更小， 32 可是被種下去以後，它就長起來，長得比所有蔬菜更大，並且長出大枝子，以致天空的飛鳥能在它的蔭下搭窩。」
使用比喻
33 耶穌照著他們所能聽的，用許多這樣的比喻，向他們講道。 34 他向眾人講話，沒有不用比喻的。可是，他卻單獨給自己的門徒們解釋一切。
平靜風浪
35 那天晚上，耶穌對門徒們說：「我們渡到對岸去吧。」 36 門徒離開眾人，耶穌仍然在船上，他們就把他一同帶去；也有別的船[o]與他同行。 37 這時候，起了大風暴，以致波浪打進船裡，船幾乎灌滿了水。 38 耶穌卻在船尾靠著枕頭睡著了。門徒們叫醒他，說：「老師！我們沒命了，你不管嗎？」
39 耶穌就起來，斥責了風，對浪[p]說：「不許做聲！平靜下來！」於是風就停了，湖面就變得一片平靜。 40 耶穌對門徒們說：「為什麼膽怯呢？你們還沒有信嗎？」
41 門徒們就大為驚恐，彼此說：「這個人究竟是誰？連風和浪也聽從他！」
Footnotes
- 馬可福音 4:1 湖——原文直譯「海」；指「加利利湖（海）」。
- 馬可福音 4:4 有古抄本附「天空的」。
- 馬可福音 4:10 使徒——輔助詞語。
- 馬可福音 4:11 賜給你們了——有古抄本作「賜下來讓你們知道」。
- 馬可福音 4:12 有古抄本附「罪」。
- 馬可福音 4:12 《以賽亞書》6:9-10。
- 馬可福音 4:15 在他們心裡——有古抄本作「在他們裡面」。
- 馬可福音 4:16 有古抄本附「同樣，」。
- 馬可福音 4:17 放棄——原文直譯「絆倒」。
- 馬可福音 4:21 斗——指「一種度量穀物的量器」；容量約為9升。
- 馬可福音 4:24 量器——或譯作「尺度」或「標準」。
- 馬可福音 4:24 你們——有古抄本作「你們這些正在聽的人」。
- 馬可福音 4:28 長出五穀——原文直譯「結出果實」。
- 馬可福音 4:30 表明——或譯作「描述」；有古抄本作「比做」。
- 馬可福音 4:36 船——有古抄本作「小船」。
- 馬可福音 4:39 浪——或譯作「湖」；原文直譯「海」。
马可福音 4
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
撒种的比喻
4 耶稣又到湖边讲道，周围聚集了许多人，耶稣只好上到湖边的船上坐下，众人都站在岸上。 2 耶稣用比喻教导他们许多事，在教导中祂说： 3 “听着！有一个农夫出去撒种。 4 撒种的时候，有些种子落在路旁，被飞鸟吃掉了； 5 有些落在石头地上，因为泥土不深，种子很快就发芽了， 6 然而因为没有根，被太阳一晒就枯萎了； 7 有些落在荆棘丛中，荆棘长起来便把嫩苗挤住了，以致不能结实； 8 有些落在沃土里，就发芽生长，结出果实，收成多达三十倍、六十倍、一百倍！” 9 然后祂说：“有耳可听的，都应当听。”
10 当耶稣独自一人的时候，十二使徒和追随祂的人来请教比喻的意思。 11 耶稣说：“上帝国的奥秘只让你们知道，对于外人，我只用比喻， 12 使他们‘看了又看，却不领悟；听了又听，却不明白，免得他们回心转意，得到赦免。’”
13 耶稣又对他们说：“你们不明白这个比喻，又怎能明白其他比喻呢？ 14 农夫撒的是上帝的道。 15 种子落在路旁，是指人听了道，撒旦立刻过来夺去了撒在他们心里的道。 16 种子落在石头地上，是指人听了道后，立刻欢喜地接受了， 17 但他们心里没有根基，不过是暂时接受，一旦为道遭受患难和迫害，就立刻放弃了。 18 种子落在荆棘丛中，是指人虽然听过道， 19 但生活的忧虑、钱财的迷惑和其他欲望把道挤住了，以致不能结出果实。 20 种子落在沃土里，是指人听了道，领受了，又结出果实，收成多达三十倍、六十倍、甚至一百倍。”
灯的比喻
21 耶稣继续说：“人会把灯拿来放在篮子底下或床底下吗？当然不会，他一定会把它放在灯台上。 22 隐藏的事是不能掩盖的，终会显露出来。 23 有耳可听的，就应当听。” 24 耶稣又说：“要好好思想你们所听到的，你们用什么量器量给人，就用什么量器量给你们，甚至要多给你们。 25 因为凡有的，还要给他更多；凡没有的，连他仅有的也要夺去！”
种子生长的比喻
26 祂又说：“上帝的国就像一个人在地上撒种。 27 他天天日出而作，日落而息。种子就在他不知不觉中渐渐发芽长大。 28 大地会使种子生长，先发苗后吐穗，最终结出饱满的籽粒。 29 庄稼成熟后，他就拿起镰刀来收割，因为收成的时候到了。”
芥菜种的比喻
30 耶稣说：“我们拿什么比作上帝的国呢？用什么比喻来解释呢？ 31 上帝的国就像一粒芥菜种。它是种子中最小的， 32 但种在地里，却能长得比各样蔬菜都大，有粗大的枝条，可以让飞鸟在它的树荫中筑巢。”
33 耶稣用了许多类似的比喻，按照众人所能领悟的，把上帝的道讲给他们听。 34 祂总是用比喻对他们讲论，只有单独和门徒在一起的时候，才把一切解释清楚。
平息风浪
35 那天晚上，耶稣对门徒说：“我们渡到对面去吧。” 36 他们就离开众人，上了耶稣乘坐的船，一起渡到湖的对岸，还有其他船只跟着去。 37 忽然，湖面上狂风大作，波浪撞击船身，船内几乎灌满了水。 38 耶稣却还在船尾枕着枕头睡觉。门徒叫醒了祂，说：“老师，我们快淹死了，你怎么不管呢？”
39 耶稣起来斥责狂风，对着湖面说：“静下来！停下来！”于是就风平浪静了。 40 祂对门徒说：“你们为什么这样害怕呢？你们还是没有信心吗？”
41 他们极其害怕，彼此议论说：“祂到底是谁？连风浪都听祂的！”
Mark 4
Common English Bible
Parable of the soils
4 Jesus began to teach beside the lake again. Such a large crowd gathered that he climbed into a boat there on the lake. He sat in the boat while the whole crowd was nearby on the shore. 2 He said many things to them in parables. While teaching them, he said, 3 “Listen to this! A farmer went out to scatter seed. 4 As he was scattering seed, some fell on the path; and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where the soil was shallow. They sprouted immediately because the soil wasn’t deep. 6 When the sun came up, it scorched the plants; and they dried up because they had no roots. 7 Other seed fell among thorny plants. The thorny plants grew and choked the seeds, and they produced nothing. 8 Other seed fell into good soil and bore fruit. Upon growing and increasing, the seed produced in one case a yield of thirty to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of one hundred to one.” 9 He said, “Whoever has ears to listen should pay attention!”
Jesus explains his parable
10 When they were alone, the people around Jesus, along with the Twelve, asked him about the parables. 11 He said to them, “The secret of God’s kingdom has been given to you, but to those who are outside everything comes in parables. 12 This is so that they can look and see but have no insight, and they can hear but not understand. Otherwise, they might turn their lives around and be forgiven.
13 “Don’t you understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? 14 The farmer scatters the word. 15 This is the meaning of the seed that fell on the path: When the word is scattered and people hear it, right away Satan comes and steals the word that was planted in them. 16 Here’s the meaning of the seed that fell on rocky ground: When people hear the word, they immediately receive it joyfully. 17 Because they have no roots, they last for only a little while. When they experience distress or abuse because of the word, they immediately fall away. 18 Others are like the seed scattered among the thorny plants. These are the ones who have heard the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the false appeal of wealth, and the desire for more things break in and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. 20 The seed scattered on good soil are those who hear the word and embrace it. They bear fruit, in one case a yield of thirty to one, in another case sixty to one, and in another case one hundred to one.”
Parables about lamps and measures
21 Jesus said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp in order to put it under a basket or a bed? Shouldn’t it be placed on a lampstand? 22 Everything hidden will be revealed, and everything secret will come out into the open. 23 Whoever has ears to listen should pay attention!”
24 He said to them, “Listen carefully! God will evaluate you with the same standard you use to evaluate others. Indeed, you will receive even more. 25 Those who have will receive more, but as for those who don’t have, even what they don’t have will be taken away from them.”
More parables about God’s kingdom
26 Then Jesus said, “This is what God’s kingdom is like. It’s as though someone scatters seed on the ground, 27 then sleeps and wakes night and day. The seed sprouts and grows, but the farmer doesn’t know how. 28 The earth produces crops all by itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full head of grain. 29 Whenever the crop is ready, the farmer goes out to cut the grain because it’s harvesttime.”
30 He continued, “What’s a good image for God’s kingdom? What parable can I use to explain it? 31 Consider a mustard seed. When scattered on the ground, it’s the smallest of all the seeds on the earth; 32 but when it’s planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all vegetable plants. It produces such large branches that the birds in the sky are able to nest in its shade.”
33 With many such parables he continued to give them the word, as much as they were able to hear. 34 He spoke to them only in parables, then explained everything to his disciples when he was alone with them.
Jesus stops a storm
35 Later that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” 36 They left the crowd and took him in the boat just as he was. Other boats followed along.
37 Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat so that the boat was swamped. 38 But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?”
39 He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, “Silence! Be still!” The wind settled down and there was a great calm. 40 Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?”
41 Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”
Mark 4
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 4
The Parable of the Sower. 1 [a]On another occasion(A) he began to teach by the sea.[b] A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.(B) 2 And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, 3 [c]“Hear this! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. 7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. 8 And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 9 He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”
The Purpose of the Parables. 10 And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. 11 [d]He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, 12 so that
‘they may look and see but not perceive,
and hear and listen but not understand,
in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.’”(C)
13 [e]Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?(D) Then how will you understand any of the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. 17 But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, 19 but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. 20 But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”
Parable of the Lamp. 21 (E)He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?(F) 22 For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.(G) 23 Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” 24 He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.(H) 25 To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”(I)
Seed Grows of Itself. 26 He said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God;[f] it is as if a man were to scatter seed(J) on the land 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”
The Mustard Seed. 30 (K)He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. 32 [g]But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” 33 With many such parables(L) he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. 34 Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
The Calming of a Storm at Sea. 35 [h]On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.”(M) 36 Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. 38 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”[i] The wind ceased and there was great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” 41 [j](N)They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
Footnotes
- 4:1–34 In parables (Mk 4:2): see note on Mt 13:3. The use of parables is typical of Jesus’ enigmatic method of teaching the crowds (Mk 4:2–9, 12) as compared with the interpretation of the parables he gives to his disciples (Mk 4:10–25, 33–34) to each group according to its capacity to understand (Mk 4:9–11). The key feature of the parable at hand is the sowing of the seed (Mk 4:3), representing the breakthrough of the kingdom of God into the world. The various types of soil refer to the diversity of response accorded the word of God (Mk 4:4–7). The climax of the parable is the harvest of thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold, indicating the consummation of the kingdom (Mk 4:8). Thus both the present and the future action of God, from the initiation to the fulfillment of the kingdom, is presented through this and other parables (Mk 4:26–29, 30–32).
- 4:1 By the sea: the shore of the Sea of Galilee or a boat near the shore (Mk 2:13; 3:7–8) is the place where Mark depicts Jesus teaching the crowds. By contrast the mountain is the scene of Jesus at prayer (Mk 6:46) or in the process of forming his disciples (Mk 3:13; 9:2).
- 4:3–8 See note on Mt 13:3–8.
- 4:11–12 These verses are to be viewed against their background in Mk 3:6, 22 concerning the unbelief and opposition Jesus encountered in his ministry. It is against this background that the distinction in Jesus’ method becomes clear of presenting the kingdom to the disbelieving crowd in one manner and to the disciples in another. To the former it is presented in parables and the truth remains hidden; for the latter the parable is interpreted and the mystery is partially revealed because of their faith; see notes on Mt 13:11 and Mt 13:13.
- 4:13–20 See note on Mt 13:18–23.
- 4:26–29 Only Mark records the parable of the seed’s growth. Sower and harvester are the same. The emphasis is on the power of the seed to grow of itself without human intervention (Mk 4:27). Mysteriously it produces blade and ear and full grain (Mk 4:28). Thus the kingdom of God initiated by Jesus in proclaiming the word develops quietly yet powerfully until it is fully established by him at the final judgment (Mk 4:29); cf. Rev 14:15.
- 4:32 The universality of the kingdom of God is indicated here; cf. Ez 17:23; 31:6; Dn 4:17–19.
- 4:35–5:43 After the chapter on parables, Mark narrates four miracle stories: Mk 4:35–41; 5:1–20; and two joined together in Mk 5:21–43. See also notes on Mt 8:23–34 and 9:8–26.
- 4:39 Quiet! Be still!: as in the case of silencing a demon (Mk 1:25), Jesus rebukes the wind and subdues the turbulence of the sea by a mere word; see note on Mt 8:26.
- 4:41 Jesus is here depicted as exercising power over wind and sea. In the Christian community this event was seen as a sign of Jesus’ saving presence amid persecutions that threatened its existence.
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.