Mark 4:1-9

Parable of the soils

1 Jesus began to teach beside the lake again. Such a large crowd gathered that he climbed into a boat there on the lake. He sat in the boat while the whole crowd was nearby on the shore.

2 He said many things to them in parables. While teaching them, he said,

3 " Listen to this! A farmer went out to scatter seed.

4 As he was scattering seed, some fell on the path; and the birds came and ate it.

5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where the soil was shallow. They sprouted immediately because the soil wasn't deep.

6 When the sun came up, it scorched the plants; and they dried up because they had no roots.

7 Other seed fell among thorny plants. The thorny plants grew and choked the seeds, and they produced nothing.

8 Other seed fell into good soil and bore fruit. Upon growing and increasing, the seed produced in one case a yield of thirty to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of one hundred to one."

9 He said, " Whoever has ears to listen should pay attention!"