1 Uma vez mais juntou-se enorme multidão na praia em torno de Jesus enquanto ensinava, pelo que entrou num bote e sentou-se, falando dali.

2 Tinha o costume de ensinar o povo, contando-lhe parábolas. Foi assim que contou uma delas:

3 Ouçam bem. Um lavrador resolveu semear um pouco de grão. Todavia, enquanto o espalhava pelo campo, parte da semente caiu num caminho, e as aves vieram e, apanhando-a no chão duro, comeram-na.

5 Outra parte caiu em terra pouco profunda, com pedras por baixo. Cresceu depressa, mas logo murchou com o calor do Sol e morreu, porque as raízes não conseguiam alimentar-se naquele solo pouco fundo.

7 Outras sementes caíram entre espinhos, que não tardaram a crescer e a sufocar as plantas tenras, pelo que não deram grão.

8 Mas algumas sementes caíram em terra boa e deram trinta vezes o que o lavrador semeou; algumas delas até sessenta ou cem vezes tanto! Se têm ouvidos, ouçam!

13 Mas, se não conseguem entender esta ilustração tão simples, como compreenderão vocês as outras que vos hei-de dar??

14 O semeador de quem falei é qualquer pessoa que leva a mensagem da boa nova de Deus aos outros.

15 O caminho duro, onde caiu alguma da semente, representa o coração de alguns daqueles que ouvem a mensagem de Deus. Satanás, porém, logo acode para que a esqueçam.

16 A terra com muita pedra representa os que ouvem a mensagem com alegria. Mas tal como as plantas com raízes não muito fundas, embora ao princípio o crescimento seja animador, murcham mal começa a perseguição.

18 A terra de espinhos representa o coração dos que escutam as boas novas e as recebem. Todavia, bem cedo se fazem sentir os cuidados da vida, as delícias das riquezas, e as tentações; tudo isto aparece e expulsa a mensagem de Deus do seu coração, de modo que não dão nenhum fruto.

20 Mas a terra boa representa o coração daqueles que verdadeiramente aceitam a mensagem de Deus e produzem uma colheita abundante para ele-trinta, sessenta, ou até cem vezes tanto quanto foi semeado no seu coração.

21 Jesus perguntou-lhes: Quando alguém acende um candeeiro, será que coloca uma caixa por cima para esconder a luz? Claro que não! A luz assim não se veria nem serviria para nada. Um candeeiro coloca-se num lugar alto para brilhar e ser útil.

22 Tudo quanto agora está escondido acabará por vir à luz.

23 Se têm ouvidos, ouçam!ã

24 Dêem atenção ao que ouvem. Quanto mais o fizerem, melhor entenderão o que vos digo.,

25 Quem obedece à palavra de Deus receberá mais compreensão; àquele que ouve e não obedece, até o pouco que possa compreender lhe será tirado.

26 Vou mostra-vos outra maneira de explicar com que se parece o reino de Deus: Um lavrador semeou o seu campo e foi-se embora. Enquanto os dias passavam, as sementes foram crescendo sem a sua ajuda, pois era a terra que fazia as sementes crescerem. Primeiro foi uma folha que apareceu, mais tarde formaram-se as espigas de trigo, até que por fim o grão amadureceu. Então o lavrador veio logo com a foice e tratou de o colher.

30 Como vos descreverei eu o reino de Deus? Que história contarei para o explicar? É como uma semente de mostarda muito pequenina que, embora seja uma das sementes de menor tamanho, vai crescendo e se transforma numa das maiores plantas que há, com grandes ramos onde as aves podem fazer os ninhos e abrigar-se.

33 Servia-se de muitas ilustrações assim para ensinar o povo até onde ele o podia entender. Diante do povo, só ensinava por meio de parábolas, mas, quando estava a sós com os discípulos, explicava-lhes o que pretendia dizer.

35 Ao cair da tarde, Jesus disse aos discípulos: Vamos atravessar para a outra margem do lago

36 Entraram no barco onde ele já estava e começaram a travessia, deixando a multidão para trás, embora os seguissem outros barcos.

37 Mas logo se levantou grande temporal. Ondas enormes começaram a rebentar dentro do barco, que, quase cheio de água, corria grande perigo de ir ao fundo.

38 Entretanto, Jesus dormia deitado na popa, com a cabeça numa almofada. Inquietos, acordaram-no gritando: Mestre, não te preocupa que estejamos quase a morrer afogados?

39 Então repreendeu o vento e disse ao mar: Aquieta-te!, e o vento parou, fazendo-se uma grande calma.-

40 Porque estavam com tanto medo? Ainda não têm confiança em mim?

41 Eles, tomados de espanto, diziam uns aos outros: Quem é este homem, que até os ventos e as ondas lhe obedecem?

1 And, again, began he to be teaching by the sea; and there come together unto him a very great multitude, so that, he, into a boat, entering, was sitting upon the sea,-and, all the multitude, were, near the sea upon the land.

2 And he began to teach them, in parables, many things, and was saying unto them, in his teaching

3 Hearken! Lo! the sower went forth to sow;

4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some, indeed, fell by the pathway, and the birds came, and devoured it;

5 And, some, fell on the rocky places, even where it had not much earth,and, straightway, it sprang forth, by reason of its not having depth of earth;

6 and, when the sun arose, it was scorched,and, by reason of its not having root, it was dried up;

7 And, some, fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and, fruit, it yielded not;

8 And, other, fell into the good ground, and was yielding fruit, coming up and growing,and was bearing, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold,

9 And he was sayingHe that hath ears to hear, let him hear!

10 And when he was alone they who were about him with the twelve questioned him as to the parables;

11 and he was saying unto themTo you, the sacred secret hath been given of the kingdom of God, whereas, to them who are outside, in parables are all things coming to pass,that

12 They may surely look and yet not see, and surely hear and yet not understand, lest once they should return and it be forgiven them.

13 And he saith unto themKnow ye not this parable? How then will ye get to know all the parables?

14 The sower, soweth the word;

15 And these are they beside the pathway where the word is sown,and, as soon as they hear, straightway, cometh Satan, and snatcheth away the word which hath been sown into them;

16 And these are likewise they upon the rocky places sown,who, as soon as they hear the word, straightway, with joy receive it,

17 and have no root in themselves, but, only for a season are,afterwards, when there ariseth tribulation or persecution by reason of the word, straightway, they find cause of stumbling;

18 And others are they who among thorns are sown,these are they who hear the word,

19 and, the anxieties of the age, and the deceit of wealth, and the covetings about the remaining things, entering in, choke up the word, and, unfruitful, it becometh;

20 And those yonder are they who on the good ground are sown,who, indeed, hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruitthirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

21 And he was saying unto themDoth the lamp come that under the measure it should be put, or under the couch? Is it not that upon the lampstand it may be put?

22 For it is not hidden, save that it may be made visible; neither did it get hidden away, but that it might come into a place where it could be seen.

23 If any one hath ears to hear, let him hear.

24 And he was saying unto themBe taking heed what ye are hearing:with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you, and added unto you;

25 For, he that hath, it shall be given, unto him, and, he that hath not, even what he hath, shall be taken from him.

26 And he was sayingThus, is the kingdom of God: As a man may cast seed upon the earth,

27 and be sleeping and rising, night and day,and the seed be sprouting, and lengthening itself,how, he, knoweth not:

28 of itself, the earth beareth fruit,first, a blade, afterwards, an ear, after that, full corn in the ear;

29 but, as soon as the fruit yieldeth itself up, straightway, he sendeth forth the sickle, because standing by is the harvest.

30 And he was sayingHow shall we liken the kingdom of God, or, in what parable, shall we put it?

31 As a grain of mustard seed,which, whensoever it may be sown upon the earth, is less than all the seeds that are upon the earth;

32 and, as soon as it is sown, springeth up, and becometh greater than all garden plants, and produceth large branches, so that, under the shade thereof, the birds of heaven can find shelter.

33 And, with many such parables as these, was he speaking unto them the word,according as they were able to hear;

34 but, without a parable, was he not speaking unto them,privately, however, unto his own disciples, was he explaining all things.

35 And he saith unto them, on that day, when evening came, Let us cross over unto the other side;

36 and, dismissing the multitude, they take him with them, as he was, in the boat, and, other boats, were with him.

37 And there ariseth a great tempest of wind,and, the waves, were dashing over into the boat, so that, already being filled, was the boat.

38 And he was in the stern, on the cushion, sleeping. And they arouse him, and say unto him, Teacher! carest thou not that we perish?

39 And, roused up, he rebuked the wind, and said unto the seaHush! be still! and the wind lulled, and it became a great calm.

40 And he said unto themWhy, are ye, fearful? Not yet, have ye faith?

41 And they were caused to fear a great fear, and were saying one to anotherWho then is, this, that, both the wind and the sea, give ear unto him?