The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)
1 DBY And again he began to teach by the sea. And a great crowd was gathered together to him, so that going on board ship he sat in the sea, and all the crowd were close to the sea on the land. BSB BSB: Once again Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people crowded along the shore.
2 DBY And he taught them many things in parables. And he said to them in his doctrine, BSB BSB: And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said,
3 DBY Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow. BSB BSB: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 DBY And it came to pass as he sowed, one fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured it. BSB BSB: And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
5 DBY And another fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprung up out of the ground because it had no depth of earth; BSB BSB: Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.
6 DBY and when the sun arose it was burnt up, and because of its not having any root, it withered. BSB BSB: But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7 DBY And another fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. BSB BSB: Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.
8 DBY And another fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and bore, one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred. BSB BSB: Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprouted, grew up, and produced a crop—one bearing thirtyfold, another sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold.”
9 DBY And he said, He that has ears to hear, let him hear. BSB BSB: Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables (Isaiah 6:1–13; Matthew 13:10–17; Luke 8:9–10)
10 DBY And when he was alone, those about him with the twelve asked him as to the parables. BSB BSB: As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.
11 DBY And he said to them, To you is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to them who are without, all things are done in parables, BSB BSB: He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,
12 DBY that beholding they may behold and not see, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest it may be, they should be converted and they should be forgiven. BSB BSB: so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’”
The Parable of the Sower Explained (Matthew 13:18–23; Luke 8:11–15)
13 DBY And he says to them, Do ye not know this parable? and how will ye be acquainted with all the parables? BSB BSB: Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?
14 DBY The sower sows the word: BSB BSB: The farmer sows the word.
15 DBY and these are they by the wayside where the word is sown, and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. BSB BSB: Some are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
16 DBY And these are they in like manner who are sown upon the rocky places, who when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy, BSB BSB: Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
17 DBY and they have no root in themselves, but are for a time: then, tribulation arising, or persecution on account of the word, immediately they are offended. BSB BSB: But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
18 DBY And others are they who are sown among the thorns: these are they who have heard the word, BSB BSB: Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word,
19 DBY and the cares of life, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. BSB BSB: but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 DBY And these are they who have been sown on the good ground, such as hear the word and receive it, and bear fruit; one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred fold . BSB BSB: Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop—thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.”
The Lesson of the Lamp (Luke 8:16–18)
21 DBY And 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? BSB BSB: Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?
22 DBY For there is nothing hidden which shall not be made manifest; nor does any secret thing take place, but that it should come to light. BSB BSB: For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.
23 DBY If any one have ears to hear, let him hear. BSB BSB: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
24 DBY And 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. BSB BSB: He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you.
25 DBY For whosoever has, to him shall be given; and he who has not, even what he has shall be taken from him. BSB BSB: For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
The Seed Growing Secretly 26 DBY And he said, Thus is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast the seed upon the earth, BSB BSB: Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
27 DBY and should sleep and rise up night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he does not know how. BSB BSB: Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.
28 DBY The earth bears fruit of itself, first the blade, then an ear, then full corn in the ear. BSB BSB: All by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within.
29 DBY But when the fruit is produced, immediately he sends the sickle, for the harvest is come. BSB BSB: And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31–32; Luke 13:18–19)
30 DBY And he said, How should we liken the kingdom of God, or with what comparison should we compare it? BSB BSB: Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it?
31 DBY As to a grain of mustard seed , which, when it is sown upon the earth, is less than all seeds which are upon the earth, BSB BSB: It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.
32 DBY and 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. BSB BSB: But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”
33 DBY And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear, BSB BSB: With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand.
34 DBY but without a parable spoke he not to them; and in private he explained all things to his disciples. BSB BSB: He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.
Jesus Calms the Storm (Psalm 107:1–43; Matthew 8:23–27; Luke 8:22–25)
35 DBY And on that day, when evening was come, he says to them, Let us go over to the other side: BSB BSB: When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.”
37 DBY And there comes a violent gust of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it already filled. BSB BSB: Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.
38 DBY And he was in the stern sleeping on the cushion. And they awake him up and say to him, Teacher, dost thou not care that we are perishing? BSB BSB: But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”
39 DBY And awaking up he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Silence; be mute. And the wind fell, and there was a great calm. BSB BSB: Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.
40 DBY And he said to them, Why are ye thus fearful? how is it ye have not faith? BSB BSB: “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”
41 DBY And they feared with great fear, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? BSB BSB: Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”