Mark 4
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Parable of the Sower
4 Again he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! 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 did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!”
The Purpose of the Parables
10 When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret[a] of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; 12 in order that
‘they may indeed look, but not perceive,
and may indeed listen, but not understand;
so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.’”
13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. 17 But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.[b] 18 And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. 20 And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”
A Lamp under a Bushel Basket
21 He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. 23 Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. 25 For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”
The Parable of the Growing Seed
26 He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
The Use of Parables
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
Jesus Stills a Storm
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
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?
Marcos 4
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Parábola del sembrador
4 (A)Comenzó Jesús a enseñar de nuevo junto al mar; y se llegó[a] a Él una multitud tan grande(B) que tuvo que subirse a una barca(C) que estaba en el mar, y se sentó; y toda la multitud estaba en tierra a la orilla del mar. 2 Les enseñaba muchas cosas en parábolas(D), y les decía en Su enseñanza:
3 «Escuchen: El sembrador salió a sembrar; 4 y al sembrar, una parte de la semilla cayó junto al camino, y vinieron las aves y se la comieron. 5 Otra parte cayó en un pedregal donde no tenía mucha tierra; y enseguida brotó por no tener profundidad de tierra. 6 Pero cuando salió el sol, se quemó, y por no tener raíz, se secó. 7 Otra parte cayó entre espinos, y los espinos crecieron y la ahogaron, y no dio fruto. 8 Y otras semillas cayeron en buena tierra, y creciendo y desarrollándose, dieron fruto, y produjeron unas a treinta, otras a sesenta y otras a ciento por uno». 9 Y añadió: «El que tiene oídos para oír, que oiga(E)».
Explicación de la parábola
10 Cuando Jesús se quedó solo, Sus seguidores[b] junto con los doce le preguntaban sobre las parábolas. 11 «A ustedes les ha sido dado el misterio del reino de Dios», les decía, «pero los que están afuera(F)reciben todo en parábolas(G); 12 para que viendo, vean pero no perciban, y oyendo, oigan pero no entiendan, no sea que se conviertan y sean perdonados(H)».
13 (I)También les dijo*: «¿No entienden esta parábola? ¿Cómo, pues, comprenderán todas las otras parábolas? 14 El sembrador siembra la palabra. 15 Estos que están junto al camino donde se siembra la palabra, son aquellos que en cuanto la oyen, al instante viene Satanás(J)y se lleva la palabra que se ha sembrado en ellos. 16 Y de igual manera, estos en que se sembró la semilla en pedregales son los que al oír la palabra enseguida la reciben con gozo; 17 pero no tienen raíz profunda en sí mismos, sino que solo son temporales. Entonces, cuando viene la aflicción o la persecución por causa de la palabra, enseguida se apartan de ella[c]. 18 Otros son aquellos en los que se sembró la semilla entre los espinos; estos son los que han oído la palabra, 19 pero las preocupaciones del mundo[d], y el engaño de las riquezas, y los deseos de las demás cosas entran y ahogan la palabra, y se vuelve estéril(K). 20 Y otros son aquellos en que se sembró la semilla en tierra buena; los cuales oyen la palabra, la aceptan y dan fruto, unos a treinta, otros a sesenta y otros a ciento por uno(L)».
21 También Jesús les decía: «¿Acaso se trae una lámpara para ponerla debajo de una vasija o debajo de la cama? ¿No es para ponerla en el candelero(M)? 22 Porque nada hay oculto, si no es para que sea manifestado; ni nada ha estado en secreto, sino para que salga a la luz(N). 23 Si alguno tiene oídos para oír, que oiga(O)».
24 Además les decía: «Cuídense de lo que oigan. Con la medida con que ustedes midan, se les medirá(P), y aun más se les dará. 25 Porque al que tiene, se le dará más, pero al que no tiene, aun lo que tiene se le quitará(Q)».
Parábola del crecimiento de la semilla
26 Jesús decía también: «El reino de Dios es como un hombre que echa semilla en la tierra(R), 27 y se acuesta[e]de noche y se levanta de día, y la semilla brota y crece; cómo, él no lo sabe. 28 La tierra produce fruto por sí misma; primero la hoja, luego la espiga, y después el grano maduro[f]en la espiga. 29 Y cuando el fruto lo permite, él enseguida mete[g]la hoz(S), porque ha llegado el tiempo de la siega».
Parábola del grano de mostaza
30 (T)También Jesús decía: «¿A qué compararemos el reino de Dios(U), o con qué parábola lo describiremos? 31 Es como un grano de mostaza, el cual, cuando se siembra en la tierra, aunque es más pequeño que todas las semillas que hay en la tierra, 32 sin embargo, después de sembrado, crece y llega a ser más grande que todas las hortalizas y echa grandes ramas, tanto que las aves del cielo pueden anidar bajo su sombra(V)».
33 Con muchas parábolas como estas Jesús les hablaba la palabra, según podían oírla; 34 y sin parábolas[h](W) no les hablaba, pero lo explicaba(X) todo en privado a Sus propios discípulos.
Jesús calma la tempestad
35 (Y)Ese mismo día, caída ya la tarde, Jesús les dijo*: «Pasemos al otro lado». 36 Despidiendo[i] a la multitud, lo llevaron* con ellos en la barca(Z), como estaba; y había otras barcas con Él. 37 Pero se levantó* una violenta tempestad[j], y las olas se lanzaban sobre la barca de tal manera que ya la barca se llenaba de agua. 38 Jesús estaba en la popa, durmiendo sobre una almohadilla; entonces lo despertaron* y le dijeron*: «Maestro, ¿no te importa que perezcamos?».
39 Jesús se levantó, reprendió al viento y dijo al mar: «¡Cálmate[k], sosiégate[l]!». Y el viento cesó, y sobrevino una gran calma(AA). 40 Entonces les dijo: «¿Por qué están atemorizados? ¿Cómo no tienen fe(AB)?».
41 Y se llenaron de gran temor, y se decían unos a otros: «¿Quién, pues, es Este que aun el viento y el mar le obedecen?».
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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