Chapter 4

  And he began again to teach by the sea-side: and there was gathered to him a great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat on the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea, on the land.  

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  And he taught them many things by parables, and said to them in his doctrine,  

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  Hearken; Behold, a sower went out to sow:  

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  And it came to pass as he sowed, some fell by the way-side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it.  

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  And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth.  

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

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

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  And other fell on good ground, and yielded fruit that sprang up, and increased, and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some a hundred.  

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  And he said to them, He that 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 parable.  

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  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 these 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 at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.  

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  And he said to them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all 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; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.  

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  And these are they likewise who are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;  

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  And 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 relapse.  

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  And these are they who are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,  

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  And 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.  

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  And these are they who are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred.  

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  And he said to them, Is a candle brought to be put under a close vessel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?  

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  For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither hath any thing been kept secret, but that it should come abroad.  

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

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  And he said to them, Take heed what ye hear: With the measure which ye give, it shall be measured to you: and to you that hear shall more be given.  

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  For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken 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 into the ground;  

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

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  For the earth bringeth forth fruit of itself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.  

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  But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.  

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  And he said, To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?  

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  It is like a grain of mustard-seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth.  

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  But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under its shade.  

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

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  But without a parable he spoke not to them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.  

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  And the same day, when the evening was come, he saith to them, Let us pass over to the other side.  

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  And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the boat. And there were also with him other small boats.  

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  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was now full.  

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  And he was in the hinder part of the boat, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say to him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?  

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  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.  

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  And he said to them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?  

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  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?  

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