Marco 4
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
Parabola del seminatore
4 Di nuovo si mise a insegnare lungo il mare. E si riunì attorno a lui una folla enorme, tanto che egli salì su una barca e là restò seduto, stando in mare, mentre la folla era a terra lungo la riva. 2 Insegnava loro molte cose in parabole e diceva loro nel suo insegnamento: 3 «Ascoltate. Ecco, uscì il seminatore a seminare. 4 Mentre seminava, una parte cadde lungo la strada e vennero gli uccelli e la divorarono. 5 Un'altra cadde fra i sassi, dove non c'era molta terra, e subito spuntò perché non c'era un terreno profondo; 6 ma quando si levò il sole, restò bruciata e, non avendo radice, si seccò. 7 Un'altra cadde tra le spine; le spine crebbero, la soffocarono e non diede frutto. 8 E un'altra cadde sulla terra buona, diede frutto che venne su e crebbe, e rese ora il trenta, ora il sessanta e ora il cento per uno». 9 E diceva: «Chi ha orecchi per intendere intenda!».
Perché Gesù parla in parabole
10 Quando poi fu solo, i suoi insieme ai Dodici lo interrogavano sulle parabole. Ed egli disse loro: 11 «A voi è stato confidato il mistero del regno di Dio; a quelli di fuori invece tutto viene esposto in parabole, 12 perché:
guardino, ma non vedano, ascoltino, ma non intendano,
perché non si convertano e venga loro perdonato».
Spiegazione della parabola del seminatore
13 Continuò dicendo loro: «Se non comprendete questa parabola, come potrete capire tutte le altre parabole? 14 Il seminatore semina la parola. 15 Quelli lungo la strada sono coloro nei quali viene seminata la parola; ma quando l'ascoltano, subito viene satana, e porta via la parola seminata in loro. 16 Similmente quelli che ricevono il seme sulle pietre sono coloro che, quando ascoltano la parola, subito l'accolgono con gioia, 17 ma non hanno radice in se stessi, sono incostanti e quindi, al sopraggiungere di qualche tribolazione o persecuzione a causa della parola, subito si abbattono. 18 Altri sono quelli che ricevono il seme tra le spine: sono coloro che hanno ascoltato la parola, 19 ma sopraggiungono le preoccupazioni del mondo e l'inganno della ricchezza e tutte le altre bramosie, soffocano la parola e questa rimane senza frutto. 20 Quelli poi che ricevono il seme su un terreno buono, sono coloro che ascoltano la parola, l'accolgono e portano frutto nella misura chi del trenta, chi del sessanta, chi del cento per uno».
Come ricevere e trasmettere l'insegnamento di Gesù
21 Diceva loro: «Si porta forse la lampada per metterla sotto il moggio o sotto il letto? O piuttosto per metterla sul lucerniere? 22 Non c'è nulla infatti di nascosto che non debba essere manifestato e nulla di segreto che non debba essere messo in luce. 23 Se uno ha orecchi per intendere, intenda!».
24 Diceva loro: «Fate attenzione a quello che udite: Con la stessa misura con la quale misurate, sarete misurati anche voi; anzi vi sarà dato di più. 25 Poiché a chi ha, sarà dato e a chi non ha, sarà tolto anche quello che ha».
Parabola del seme che spunta da solo
26 Diceva: «Il regno di Dio è come un uomo che getta il seme nella terra; 27 dorma o vegli, di notte o di giorno, il seme germoglia e cresce; come, egli stesso non lo sa. 28 Poiché la terra produce spontaneamente, prima lo stelo, poi la spiga, poi il chicco pieno nella spiga. 29 Quando il frutto è pronto, subito si mette mano alla falce, perché è venuta la mietitura».
Parabola del grano di senapa
30 Diceva: «A che cosa possiamo paragonare il regno di Dio o con quale parabola possiamo descriverlo? 31 Esso è come un granellino di senapa che, quando viene seminato per terra, è il più piccolo di tutti semi che sono sulla terra; 32 ma appena seminato cresce e diviene più grande di tutti gli ortaggi e fa rami tanto grandi che gli uccelli del cielo possono ripararsi alla sua ombra».
Conclusione sulle parabole
33 Con molte parabole di questo genere annunziava loro la parola secondo quello che potevano intendere. 34 Senza parabole non parlava loro; ma in privato, ai suoi discepoli, spiegava ogni cosa.
La tempesta sedata
35 In quel medesimo giorno, verso sera, disse loro: «Passiamo all'altra riva». 36 E lasciata la folla, lo presero con sé, così com'era, nella barca. C'erano anche altre barche con lui. 37 Nel frattempo si sollevò una gran tempesta di vento e gettava le onde nella barca, tanto che ormai era piena. 38 Egli se ne stava a poppa, sul cuscino, e dormiva. Allora lo svegliarono e gli dissero: «Maestro, non t'importa che moriamo?». 39 Destatosi, sgridò il vento e disse al mare: «Taci, calmati!». Il vento cessò e vi fu grande bonaccia. 40 Poi disse loro: «Perché siete così paurosi? Non avete ancora fede?». 41 E furono presi da grande timore e si dicevano l'un l'altro: «Chi è dunque costui, al quale anche il vento e il mare obbediscono?».
Mark 4
King James Version
4 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.
2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
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.
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:
6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no 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.
9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And when he was alone, they that were 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 are without, all these things are done in 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.
13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
14 The sower soweth the word.
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.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
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.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
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.
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.
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?
22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
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.
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.
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
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:
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.
33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto 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.
37 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 hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
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.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no 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?
Mark 4
Legacy Standard Bible
The Parable of the Sower
4 (A)And He began to teach again (B)by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that (C)He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land. 2 And He was teaching them many things in (D)parables, and was saying to them in His teaching, 3 “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and it happened that as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 And other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. 6 And after the sun rose, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no [a]crop. 8 And other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they were yielding a [b]crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 9 And He was saying, “(E)He who has ears to hear, [c]let him hear.”
10 And when He was alone, [d]His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to (F)those who are outside, everything comes (G)in parables, 12 so that (H)while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, lest they return and be forgiven.”
The Parable of the Sower Explained
13 (I)And He *said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately (J)Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 16 And in a similar way, these are the ones being sown on the rocky places: those who, when hearing the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17 and they have no root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they [e]fall away. 18 And others are those being sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 but the worries of (K)the [f]world, and the (L)deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for anything else enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 And those are the ones which were sown on the good soil: they who hear the word and accept it and (M)are bearing fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”
21 And He was saying to them, “(N)Is a lamp brought to be put under a [g]basket or under a bed? Is it not to be put on the lampstand? 22 (O)For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. 23 (P)If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And He was saying to them, “Beware what you listen to. [h](Q)By your standard of measure it will be measured to you, and more will be given to you. 25 (R)For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”
The Parable of the Seed
26 And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; 27 and he sleeps and rises, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. 28 The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. 29 But when the grain [i]is ripe, he immediately [j](S)puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 (T)And He was saying, “How shall we (U)compare the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is [k]smallest of all the seeds that are upon the soil, 32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes [l]largest of all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that (V)the birds of the [m]air can nest under its shade.”
33 And with many such parables He was speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 and He was not speaking to them (W)without a parable; but He was (X)explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
Jesus Calms a Storm
35 (Y)And on that day, when evening came, He *said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 [n]And leaving the crowd, they *took Him along with them (Z)in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. 37 And a great windstorm *arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling up. 38 And Jesus Himself was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion; and they *got Him up and *said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 And He woke up and (AA)rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still.” And the wind died down and [o]it became [p]perfectly calm. 40 And He said to them, “Why are you so cowardly? (AB)Do you still have no faith?” 41 And they became [q]very afraid and were saying to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
Footnotes
- Mark 4:7 Lit fruit
- Mark 4:8 Lit fruit
- Mark 4:9 Or hear!, listen!; Gr imperative
- Mark 4:10 Lit those about Him
- Mark 4:17 Lit are caused to stumble
- Mark 4:19 Or age
- Mark 4:21 Or peck-measure
- Mark 4:24 Lit By what measure you measure
- Mark 4:29 Lit permits
- Mark 4:29 Lit sends forth
- Mark 4:31 Lit smaller
- Mark 4:32 Lit larger
- Mark 4:32 Or sky
- Mark 4:36 Or Sending away
- Mark 4:39 Lit a great calm occurred
- Mark 4:39 Or greatly, cf. 4:37
- Mark 4:41 Or greatly, cf. 4:37
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