King James Version, Updated™

(1) Again he began to teach by the seaside; and there a great multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

(2) He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in his teaching,

(3) "Listen; Behold, a sower went out to sow;

(4) It came to pass, as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside, and the birds of the air came and devoured it.

(5) Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth.

(6) But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and because it had no root, it withered away.

(7) Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

(8) Other seed fell on good ground, and yielded fruit that sprang up and increased, and brought forth, some 30 times, and some 60 times, and some a 100 times."

(9) And he said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

(10) When he was alone, those who were around him with the 12 disciples asked him about the parable.

(11) And he said to them, "It is given to YOU to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all these things are done in parables,

(12) so 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 be forgiven them."

(13) And he said to them, "Do YOU not understand this parable? How then will YOU understand all the other parables?

(14) The sower sows the word.

(15) And these are those by the wayside, where the word is sown; but when they hear, Satan comes immediately, and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

(16) Likewise those which are sown on stony ground, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

(17) They have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a short time; afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

(18) Others are those who are sown among thorns; they are those who hear the word,

(19) but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

(20) And those that are sown on good ground, are those who hear the word, and accept it, and bring forth fruit, some 30 fold, some 60, and some 100."

(21) Then he said to them, "Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not set on a candlestick?

(22) For there is nothing hidden, which shall not be shown; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come into the open.

(23) If any man has ears to hear, let him hear."

(24) He said to them, "Take heed what YOU hear; with what measure YOU measure, it shall be measured to YOU; and to YOU who hear more shall be given.

(25) For he that has, to him more shall be given; and he that does not have, from him even what he has shall be taken."

(26) Then he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should throw seed on the ground,

(27) and sleeps, and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows up, but he does not know how.

(28) For the earth brings forth fruit by itself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

(29) But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."

(30) Then he said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God, or with what parable shall we compare it?

(31) It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is smaller than all the seeds that are on the earth,

(32) but when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may lodge under its shadow."

(33) And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.

(34) But without a parable he did not speak to them; and when they were alone, he explained all things to his disciples.

(35) On the same day, when evening came, he said to them, "Let us pass over to the other side."

(36) And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him in the ship as he was. And also with him there were other little ships.

(37) Then a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now filled with water.

(38) He was in the rear part of the ship, asleep on a pillow; and they awoke him, and said to him, "Master, do you not care that we are perishing?"

(39) And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

(40) He said to them, "Why are YOU so fearful? How is it that YOU 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?"