Chapter 4

  And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land.  

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  And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in his teaching,  

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  Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow:  

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  and it came to pass, as he sowed, some [seed] fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured it.  

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  And other fell on the rocky [ground], where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth:  

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  and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.  

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  And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.  

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  And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.  

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  And he said, Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.  

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  And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables.  

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  And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables:  

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  that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them.  

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  And he saith unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how shall ye know all the parables?  

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  The sower soweth the word.  

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  And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, straightway cometh Satan, and taketh away the word which hath been sown in them.  

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  And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky [places], who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy;  

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  and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble.  

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  And others are they that are sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word,  

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  and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.  

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  And those are they that were sown upon the good ground; such as hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.  

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  And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed, [and] not to be put on the stand?  

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  For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was [anything] made secret, but that it should come to light.  

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  If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear.  

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  And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you; and more shall be given unto you.  

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  For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.  

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  And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth;  

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  and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how.  

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  The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.  

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  But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.  

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  And he said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth?  

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  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth,  

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  yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof.  

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  And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it;  

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  and without a parable spake he not unto them: but privately to his own disciples he expounded all things.  

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  And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side.  

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  And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him.  

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  And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling.  

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  And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish?  

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  And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  

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  And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?  

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  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?  

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