The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)
1 DRA And again he began to teach by the sea side; and a great multitude was gathered together unto him, so that he went up into a ship, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude was upon the land by the sea side. 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 DRA And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in his doctrine: BSB BSB: And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said,
3 DRA Hear ye: Behold, the sower went out to sow. BSB BSB: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 DRA And whilst he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and ate it up. BSB BSB: And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
5 DRA And other some fell upon stony ground, where it had not much earth; and it shot up immediately, 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 DRA And when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. BSB BSB: But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7 DRA And some fell among 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 DRA And some fell upon good ground; and brought forth fruit that grew up, and increased and yielded, one thirty, another sixty, and another 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 DRA And he said: He that hath 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 DRA And when he was alone, the twelve that were with him asked him the parable. BSB BSB: As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.
11 DRA And he said to them: To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to them that 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 DRA 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 should be forgiven them. 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 DRA And he saith to them: Are you ignorant of this parable? and how shall you know all parables? BSB BSB: Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?
14 DRA He that soweth, soweth the word. BSB BSB: The farmer sows the word.
15 DRA And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown, and as soon as they have heard, immediately Satan cometh and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 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 DRA And these likewise are they that are sown on the stony ground: who when they have heard 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 DRA And they have no root in themselves, but are only for a time: and then when tribulation and persecution ariseth for the word they are presently scandalized. 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 DRA And others there are who are sown among thorns: these are they that hear the word, BSB BSB: Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word,
19 DRA And the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts after other things entering in choke the word, and it is made fruitless. 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 DRA And these are they who are sown upon the good ground, who hear the word, and receive it, and yield fruit, the one thirty, another sixty, and another a hundred. 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 DRA And he said to them: Doth a candle come in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 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 DRA For there is nothing hid, which shall not be made manifest: neither was it made secret, but that it may come abroad. BSB BSB: For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.
23 DRA If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. BSB BSB: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
24 DRA And he said to them: Take heed what you hear. In what measure you shall mete, it shall be measured to you again, and more shall be given 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 DRA For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, that also which he hath shall be taken away 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 DRA And he said: So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the earth, BSB BSB: Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
27 DRA And should sleep, and rise, night and day, and the seed should spring, and grow up whilst he knoweth not. BSB BSB: Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.
28 DRA For the earth of itself bringeth forth fruit, first the blade, then the ear, afterwards the 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 DRA And when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because 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 DRA And he said: To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? or to what parable shall 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 DRA It is as a grain of mustard seed: which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth: BSB BSB: It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.
32 DRA And when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches, so that the birds of the air may dwell under the shadow thereof. 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 DRA And with many such parables, he spoke to them the word, according 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 DRA And without parable he did not speak unto them; but apart, 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 DRA And he saith to them that day, when evening was come: Let us pass over to the other side. BSB BSB: When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.”
37 DRA And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that the ship was filled. BSB BSB: Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.
38 DRA And he was in the hinder part of the ship, sleeping upon a pillow; and they awake him, and say to him: Master, doth it not concern thee that we perish? 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 DRA And rising up, he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea: Peace, be still. And the wind ceased: and there was made 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 DRA And he said to them: Why are you fearful? have you not faith yet? And they feared exceedingly: and they said one to another: Who is this (thinkest thou) that both wind and sea obey him? BSB BSB: “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”