Mark 4
New Century Version
A Story About Planting Seed
4 Again Jesus began teaching by the lake. A great crowd gathered around him, so he sat down in a boat near the shore. All the people stayed on the shore close to the water. 2 Jesus taught them many things, using stories. He said, 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed. 4 While he was planting, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some seed fell on rocky ground where there wasn’t much dirt. That seed grew very fast, because the ground was not deep. 6 But when the sun rose, the plants dried up because they did not have deep roots. 7 Some other seed fell among thorny weeds, which grew and choked the good plants. So those plants did not produce a crop. 8 Some other seed fell on good ground and began to grow. It got taller and produced a crop. Some plants made thirty times more, some made sixty times more, and some made a hundred times more.”
9 Then Jesus said, “Let those with ears use them and listen!”
Jesus Tells Why He Used Stories
10 Later, when Jesus was alone, the twelve apostles and others around him asked him about the stories.
11 Jesus said, “You can know the secret about the kingdom of God. But to other people I tell everything by using stories 12 so that:
‘They will look and look, but they will not learn.
They will listen and listen, but they will not understand.
If they did learn and understand,
they would come back to me and be forgiven.’” Isaiah 6:9–10
Jesus Explains the Seed Story
13 Then Jesus said to his followers, “Don’t you understand this story? If you don’t, how will you understand any story? 14 The farmer is like a person who plants God’s message in people. 15 Sometimes the teaching falls on the road. This is like the people who hear the teaching of God, but Satan quickly comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them. 16 Others are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching and quickly accept it with joy. 17 But since they don’t allow the teaching to go deep into their lives, they keep it only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they quickly give up. 18 Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching, 19 but the worries of this life, the temptation of wealth, and many other evil desires keep the teaching from growing and producing fruit[a] in their lives. 20 Others are like the seed planted in the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce fruit—sometimes thirty times more, sometimes sixty times more, and sometimes a hundred times more.”
Use What You Have
21 Then Jesus said to them, “Do you hide a lamp under a bowl or under a bed? No! You put the lamp on a lampstand. 22 Everything that is hidden will be made clear and every secret thing will be made known. 23 Let those with ears use them and listen!
24 “Think carefully about what you hear. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you, but God will give you even more. 25 Those who have understanding will be given more. But those who do not have understanding, even what they have will be taken away from them.”
Jesus Uses a Story About Seed
26 Then Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like someone who plants seed in the ground. 27 Night and day, whether the person is asleep or awake, the seed still grows, but the person does not know how it grows. 28 By itself the earth produces grain. First the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head. 29 When the grain is ready, the farmer cuts it, because this is the harvest time.”
A Story About Mustard Seed
30 Then Jesus said, “How can I show you what the kingdom of God is like? What story can I use to explain it? 31 The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 But when planted, this seed grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants. It produces large branches, and the wild birds can make nests in its shade.”
33 Jesus used many stories like these to teach the crowd God’s message—as much as they could understand. 34 He always used stories to teach them. But when he and his followers were alone, Jesus explained everything to them.
Jesus Calms a Storm
35 That evening, Jesus said to his followers, “Let’s go across the lake.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him in the boat just as he was. There were also other boats with them. 37 A very strong wind came up on the lake. The waves came over the sides and into the boat so that it was already full of water. 38 Jesus was at the back of the boat, sleeping with his head on a cushion. His followers woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are drowning!”
39 Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and it became completely calm.
40 Jesus said to his followers, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 The followers were very afraid and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Footnotes
- 4:19 producing fruit To produce fruit means to have in your life the good things God wants.
Makko 4
Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya
Olugero lw’Omusizi
4 (A)Ate era n’atandika okuyigiriza ku lubalama lw’ennyanja. Ekibiina ky’abantu kinene nnyo ne bakuŋŋaana okumwetooloola. Kyeyava alinnya mu lyato n’ayigiriza ng’atudde omwo. 2 (B)Yabayigirizanga ebintu bingi mu ngero. N’abayigiriza ng’agamba nti, 3 (C)“Muwulirize. Waaliwo omulimi eyafuluma okusiga ensigo. 4 Bwe yali ng’azimansa ng’asiga mu nnimiro, ezimu ne zigwa ku mabbali g’ekkubo ennyonyi ne zijja ne zizirya. 5 N’endala ne zigwa ku ttaka ery’ekyaziyazi awatali ttaka lingi, ezo ne zimera mangu kubanga tezaali mu ttaka gwanvu. 6 Awo omusana bwe gwayaka ne zikalirawo, kubanga emirandira gyali kungulu. 7 Endala ne zigwa mu maggwa. Awo ensigo ne zikula kyokka amaggwa ne gazitta ne zitabala bibala. 8 (D)Endala ne zigwa ku ttaka eddungi, ezo ne zibala ebibala, ezimu emirundi amakumi asatu, endala emirundi nkaaga, n’endala kikumi.”
9 (E)N’abagamba nti, “Oyo alina amatu agawulira awulire.”
10 Awo bwe yasigala yekka, abayigirizwa be ekkumi n’ababiri n’abantu abalala, ne bamubuuza amakulu g’engero ezo ze yabagerera. 11 (F)Yesu n’abagamba nti, “Mmwe muweereddwa omukisa okumanya ekyama ekifa ku bwakabaka bwa Katonda ekyakisibwa abantu abalala abali ebweru waabwo.”
12 (G)“Balaba bulabi naye nga tebeetegereza,
era n’okuwulira bawulira naye tebategeera,
si kulwa nga bakyuka ne basonyiyibwa.”
13 “Kale obanga temutegedde makulu ga lugero luno olwangu bwe luti mulitegeera mutya endala ze ŋŋenda okweyambisa nga njigiriza? 14 (H)Omusizi asiga ekigambo y’asiga. 15 (I)Ate ensigo ezaagwa ku mabbali g’ekkubo, be bawulira ekigambo, amangwago Setaani n’ajja n’akibatwalako. 16 Ate ensigo ezaagwa ku byaziyazi, gy’emitima gy’abantu abawulira ekigambo amangwago ne bakyaniriza n’essanyu. 17 Naye tebalina mirandira, babeera bulungi okusooka, naye olutuukibwako ebizibu oba okuyigganyizibwa olw’ekigambo amangwago babivaako. 18 Ate endala ezaagwa mu maggwa, be bawulira ekigambo, 19 (J)naye okweraliikirira n’okusikirizibwa eby’obugagga n’okwegomba ebintu ebirala, bizikiriza ekigambo ne kitabala bibala. 20 Ettaka eddungi gy’emitima gy’abantu abawulira ekigambo ne bakkiririza ddala era ne bavaamu ebibala, emirundi amakumi asatu, abalala emirundi nkaaga, n’abalala kikumi.”
21 (K)Awo Yesu n’ababuuza nti, “Waliwo omuntu akoleeza ettaala n’agivuunikako ekibbo oba n’agiteeka wansi w’ekitanda? Naye omuntu bw’akoleeza ettaala tagiteeka ku kikondo waggulu? 22 (L)Kubanga buli kintu kyonna ekikolebwa mu kyama kaakano, ekiseera kirituuka ne kiragibwa mu lwatu. 23 (M)Alina amatu agawulira awulire. 24 (N)Naye mwegendereze ebyo bye mbayigiriza. 25 (O)Alina aliweebwa na buli atalina aliggyibwako n’ebyo by’alina.”
Olugero lw’Ensigo Ekula
26 (P)Awo Yesu n’abagamba nti, “Obwakabaka bwa Katonda bufaanaanyirizibwa n’omusizi asiga ensigo mu ttaka. 27 Ekiro yeebaka, n’emisana ne yeekolera by’ayagala, mu kiseera ekyo kyonna ensigo ziba zimera, naye ate nga takimanyi. 28 Ku bwalyo ettaka lireeta ekibala. Ensigo zisooka kusindika bulimi bwazo okuva mu ttaka, amatabi ne gajjako ebirimba by’eŋŋaano. 29 (Q)Eŋŋaano bw’eyengera omusizi ayanguwa mangu n’akwata akayuuyo, kubanga amakungula gatuuse.”
30 (R)Awo Yesu n’ayongera n’abagamba nti, “Obwakabaka bwa Katonda tunaabugeraageranya na ki? Oba tukozese lugero ki okubunnyonnyola? 31 Bufaananyizibwa n’akasigo aka kaladaali! Kubanga newaakubadde katono nnyo okusinga ensigo zonna ez’oku nsi, 32 naye kavaamu omuti omunene nga gulina amatabi amanene, ennyonyi ez’omu bbanga mwe ziyinza okuzimba ebisu byazo.”
33 (S)Yesu n’abuulira abantu ekigambo kya Katonda ng’akozesa engero nnyingi ezifaanana ng’ezo, nga bwe baasobolanga okuwulira. 34 (T)Yesu bwe yabanga ayigiriza ebibiina yakozesanga engero, naye bwe yaddanga ebbali n’abayigirizwa be n’abannyonnyola amakulu agali mu ngero ezo.
Yesu Akkakkanya Omuyaga
35 Ku lunaku olwo obudde nga buwungedde Yesu n’agamba abayigirizwa be nti, “Tuwunguke tulage emitala.” 36 (U)N’aleka awo ekibiina, abayigirizwa be ne balinnya mu lyato Yesu mwe yali ne bagenda naye. Abantu abamu ne babagobera mu maato agaabwe. 37 Amangwago omuyaga mungi nnyo ne gukunta n’amayengo amagulumivu ne geeyiwa mu lyato ne libulako katono okujjula amazzi. 38 Yesu yali agalamidde emabega mu lyato nga yeezizise omutto yeebase. Awo abayigirizwa be ne bamuzuukusa nga bagamba nti, “Omuyigiriza, ggwe tofaayo nga ffenna tugenda okusaanawo?”
39 N’azuukuka n’aboggolera omuyaga n’agamba ennyanja nti, “Tteeka, sirika.” Omuyaga ne gusirika n’ennyanja n’eteekera ddala.
40 (V)N’ababuuza nti, “Lwaki mutidde? Temunnaba kubeera na kukkiriza?”
41 Ne batya nnyo, ne beebuuza nti, “Ono ye ani, embuyaga n’ennyanja gwe bigondera?”
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?
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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