Mark 4:14–32

14 The sower sowsav the word.aw 15 Some are like the word sown on the path.ax When they hear, immediately Satanay comes and takes away the wordaz 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.ba 17 But they have no root; they are short-lived. When distressbb or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately fall away.bc 18 Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, 19 but the worriesbd of this age,be the deceitfulnessD,bf of wealth,bg and the desiresbh for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.bi 20 And those like seed sown on good ground hear the word,bj welcome it, and produce fruitbk thirty, sixty, and a hundred times what was sown.”

USING YOUR LIGHT

21 Hebl also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed?bm Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?bn 22 For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed,bo and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.”bp 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measurea you use,b it will be measured to you—and more will be addedc to you. 25 For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”d

THE PARABLE OF THE GROWING SEED

26 “The kingdom of Gode is like this,” he said. “A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 He sleepsf and risesg nighth and day; the seed sprouts and grows, although he doesn’t know how. 28 The soil produces a cropi by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the full grainj on the head. 29 As soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle,k because the harvestl has come.”

THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED

30 Andm he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God,n or what parableo can we use to describe it? 31 It’s like a mustard seedp that, when sown upon the soil, is the smallest of all the seeds on the ground. 32 And when sown,q it comes up and grows taller than all the garden plants,r and produces large branches, so that the birds of the skys can nest in its shade.”