Mark 4:30-41

New International Version

The Parable of the Mustard Seed^(A)

³⁰Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like,^(B) or what parable shall we use to describe it? ³¹It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. ³²Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

³³With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.^(C) ³⁴He did not say anything to them without using a parable.^(D) But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Jesus Calms the Storm^(E)

³⁵That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.^(F) There were also other boats with him. ³⁷A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”^(G)

⁴¹They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

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Psalm 78:21-39

New International Version

²¹When the Lord heard them, he was furious;
    his fire broke out^(A) against Jacob,
    and his wrath rose against Israel,
²²for they did not believe in God
    or trust^(B) in his deliverance.
²³Yet he gave a command to the skies above
    and opened the doors of the heavens;^(C)
²⁴he rained down manna^(D) for the people to eat,
    he gave them the grain of heaven.
²⁵Human beings ate the bread of angels;
    he sent them all the food they could eat.
²⁶He let loose the east wind^(E) from the heavens
    and by his power made the south wind blow.
²⁷He rained meat down on them like dust,
    birds^(F) like sand on the seashore.
²⁸He made them come down inside their camp,
    all around their tents.
²⁹They ate till they were gorged—^(G)
    he had given them what they craved.
³⁰But before they turned from what they craved,
    even while the food was still in their mouths,^(H)
³¹God’s anger rose against them;
    he put to death the sturdiest^(I) among them,
    cutting down the young men of Israel.

³²In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;^(J)
    in spite of his wonders,^(K) they did not believe.^(L)
³³So he ended their days in futility^(M)
    and their years in terror.
³⁴Whenever God slew them, they would seek^(N) him;
    they eagerly turned to him again.
³⁵They remembered that God was their Rock,^(O)
    that God Most High was their Redeemer.^(P)
³⁶But then they would flatter him with their mouths,^(Q)
    lying to him with their tongues;
³⁷their hearts were not loyal^(R) to him,
    they were not faithful to his covenant.
³⁸Yet he was merciful;^(S)
    he forgave^(T) their iniquities^(U)
    and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger^(V)
    and did not stir up his full wrath.
³⁹He remembered that they were but flesh,^(W)
    a passing breeze^(X) that does not return.