Mark 4:1–25

And ^ahe began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into ^ba ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. ²And he taught them many things by parables, ^cand said unto them in his doctrine, ³Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: ⁴And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. ⁵And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: ⁶But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. ⁷And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. ⁸And 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. ⁹And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

¹⁰And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. ¹¹And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto ^dthem that are without, all these things are done in parables: ^12eThat 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. ^13fAnd he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? ¹⁴The sower soweth the word. ¹⁵And 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. ¹⁶And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; ¹⁷And 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. ¹⁸And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, ¹⁹And 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. ²⁰And 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.

²¹And he said unto them, ^gIs a candle brought to be put under a ^||bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? ^22hFor there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. ²³ⁱIf any man have ears to hear, let him hear. ²⁴And he said unto them, ^jTake heed what ye hear: ^kwith what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. ^25lFor he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.