Mark 4:21–34

²¹And he said to them, Does the lamp come that it should be put under the bushel or under the couch? Is it not that it should be set upon the lamp-stand? ²²For there is nothing hidden which shall not be made manifest; nor does any secret thing take place, but that it should come to light. ²³If any one have ears to hear, let him hear. ²⁴And he said to them, Take heed what ye hear; with what measure ye mete, it shall be meted to you; and there shall be more added to you. ²⁵For whosoever has, to him shall be given; and he who has not, even what he has shall be taken from him. ²⁶And he said, Thus is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast the seed upon the earth, ²⁷and should sleep and rise up night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he does not know how. ²⁸The earth bears fruit of itself, first the blade, then an ear, then full corn in the ear. ²⁹But when the fruit is produced, immediately he sends the sickle, for the harvest is come. ³⁰And he said, How should we liken the kingdom of God, or with what comparison should we compare it? ³¹As to a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, is less than all seeds which are upon the earth, ³²and when it has been sown, mounts up and becomes greater than all herbs, and produces great branches, so that the birds of heaven can roost under its shadow. ³³And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear, ³⁴but without a parable spoke he not to them; and in private he explained all things to his disciples.