Psalm 1

The Two Ways

How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!(A)
Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.(B)
He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams[a]
that bears its fruit in its season,(C)
and its leaf does not wither.(D)
Whatever he does prospers.(E)

The wicked are not like this;
instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.(F)
Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment,(G)
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,(H)
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.(I)

Footnotes

  1. 1:3 Or beside irrigation channels

19 A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of the upright is a highway.(A)

20 A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.(B)

Read full chapter

The Parable of the Sower

Again(A) he began to teach(B) by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around him. So he got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was by the sea on the shore. He taught them many things in parables,(C) and in his teaching(D) he said to them, “Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow.(E) As he sowed, some seed fell along the path,(F) and the birds came and devoured(G) it. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly,(H) since the soil wasn’t deep. When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.(I) Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce fruit. Still other seed fell on good ground and it grew up, producing fruit that increased(J) thirty, sixty, and a hundred times.”(K) Then he said, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”(L)

Why Jesus Used Parables

10 When he was alone, those around him with the Twelve(M) asked him about the parables.(N) 11 He answered them, “The secret(O) of the kingdom of God(P) has been given to you, but to those outside,(Q) everything comes in parables 12 so that

they may indeed look,
and yet not perceive;
they may indeed listen,
and yet not understand;(R)
otherwise, they might turn back
and be forgiven.”[a][b] (S)

The Parable of the Sower Explained

13 Then(T) he said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable?(U) How then will you understand all of the parables? 14 The sower sows(V) the word.(W) 15 Some are like the word sown on the path.(X) When they hear, immediately Satan(Y) comes and takes away the word(Z) sown in them.[c] 16 And others are like seed sown on rocky ground. When they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.(AA) 17 But they have no root; they are short-lived. When distress(AB) or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately fall away.(AC) 18 Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, 19 but the worries(AD) of this age,(AE) the deceitfulness[d](AF) of wealth,(AG) and the desires(AH) for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.(AI) 20 And those like seed sown on good ground hear the word,(AJ) welcome it, and produce fruit(AK) thirty, sixty, and a hundred times what was sown.”

Using Your Light

21 He(AL) also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed?(AM) Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?(AN)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 4:12 Other mss read and their sins be forgiven them
  2. 4:12 Is 6:9–10
  3. 4:15 Other mss read in their hearts
  4. 4:19 Or seduction

Bible Gateway Recommends

CSB Gift & Award Bible--imitation leather, black
CSB Gift & Award Bible--imitation leather, black
Retail: $7.99
Our Price: $6.29
Save: $1.70 (21%)
CSB Law Enforcement Officer's Bible, Black LeatherTouch
CSB Law Enforcement Officer's Bible, Black LeatherTouch
Retail: $24.99
Our Price: $14.49
Save: $10.50 (42%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
CSB Illustrating Bible--faux-leather, green
CSB Illustrating Bible--faux-leather, green
Retail: $69.99
Our Price: $51.99
Save: $18.00 (26%)
3.0 of 5.0 stars