New American Standard Bible NAS
New International Version NIV
30 And He said, "How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it?
30
Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?
31 "It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil,
31
It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.
32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE."
32
Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
33 With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it;
33
With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.
34 and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
34
He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
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