4 And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land. 2And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in his teaching, 3Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow: 4and it came to pass, as he sowed, some seed fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured it. 5And other fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth: 6and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. 9And he said, Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables. 11And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables: 12that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them. 13And he saith unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how shall ye know all the parables? 14The sower soweth the word. 15And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, straightway cometh Satan, and taketh away the word which hath been sown in them. 16And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy; 17and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble. 18And others are they that are sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word, 19and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20And those are they that were sown upon the good ground; such as hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.

21And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed, and not to be put on the stand? 22For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light. 23If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear. 24And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you; and more shall be given unto you. 25For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.

26And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth; 27and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how. 28The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.

30And he said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth? 31It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth, 32yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof.

33And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it; 34and without a parable spake he not unto them: but privately to his own disciples he expounded all things. 35And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side. 36And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him. 37And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling. 38And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish? 39And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith? 41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

5 And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. 2And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain; 4because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him. 5And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones. 6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him; 7and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not. 8For he said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man. 9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith unto him, My name is Legion; for we are many. 10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding. 12And they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea. 14And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass. 15And they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with demons sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion: and they were afraid. 16And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine. 17And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders. 18And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him. 19And he suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he had mercy on thee. 20And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men marvelled.

21And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat unto the other side, a great multitude was gathered unto him; and he was by the sea. 22And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he falleth at his feet, 23and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live. 24And he went with him; and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him.

25And a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, 26and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27having heard the things concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment. 28For she said, If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole. 29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague. 30And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned him about in the crowd, and said, Who touched my garments? 31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

35While he yet spake, they come from the ruler of the synagogue’s house saying, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Teacher any further? 36But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not, only believe. 37And he suffered no man to follow with him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 38And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue; and he beholdeth a tumult, and many weeping and wailing greatly. 39And when he was entered in, he saith unto them, Why make ye a tumult, and weep? the child is not dead, but sleepeth. 40And they laughed him to scorn. But he, having put them all forth, taketh the father of the child and her mother and them that were with him, and goeth in where the child was. 41And taking the child by the hand, he saith unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise. 42And straightway the damsel rose up, and walked; for she was twelve years old. And they were amazed straightway with a great amazement. 43And he charged them much that no man should know this: and he commanded that something should be given her to eat.

6 And he went out from thence; and he cometh into his own country; and his disciples follow him. 2And when the sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, Whence hath this man these things? and, What is the wisdom that is given unto this man, and what mean such mighty works wrought by his hands? 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended in him. 4And Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6And he marvelled because of their unbelief.

And he went round about the villages teaching.

7And he calleth unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits; 8and he charged them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse; 9but to go shod with sandals: and, said he, put not on two coats. 10And he said unto them, Wheresoever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart thence. 11And whatsoever place shall not receive you, and they hear you not, as ye go forth thence, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony unto them. 12And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 13And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

14And king Herod heard thereof; for his name had become known: and he said, John the Baptizer is risen from the dead, and therefore do these powers work in him. 15But others said, It is Elijah. And others said, It is a prophet, even as one of the prophets. 16But Herod, when he heard thereof, said, John, whom I beheaded, he is risen. 17For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. 18For John said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. 19And Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him; and she could not; 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was much perplexed; and he heard him gladly. 21And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, and the high captains, and the chief men of Galilee; 22and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and them that sat at meat with him; and the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. 23And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. 24And she went out, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptizer. 25And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou forthwith give me on a platter the head of John the Baptist. 26And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her. 27And straightway the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring his head: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother. 29And when his disciples heard thereof, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

30And the apostles gather themselves together unto Jesus; and they told him all things, whatsoever they had done, and whatsoever they had taught. 31And he saith unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while. For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a desert place apart. 33And the people saw them going, and many knew them, and they ran together there on foot from all the cities, and outwent them. 34And he came forth and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. 35And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, The place is desert, and the day is now far spent; 36send them away, that they may go into the country and villages round about, and buy themselves somewhat to eat. 37But he answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred shillings’ worth of bread, and give them to eat? 38And he saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. 39And he commanded them that all should sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 41And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake the loaves; and he gave to the disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 42And they all ate, and were filled. 43And they took up broken pieces, twelve basketfuls, and also of the fishes. 44And they that ate the loaves were five thousand men.

45And straightway he constrained his disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side to Bethsaida, while he himself sendeth the multitude away. 46And after he had taken leave of them, he departed into the mountain to pray. 47And when even was come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48And seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them, about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them: 49but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he straightway spake with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. 51And he went up unto them into the boat; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves; 52for they understood not concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened.

53And when they had crossed over, they came to the land unto Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. 54And when they were come out of the boat, straightway the people knew him, 55and ran round about that whole region, and began to carry about on their beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. 56And wheresoever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

7 And there are gathered together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, 2and had seen that some of his disciples ate their bread with defiled, that is, unwashen, hands. 3(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands diligently, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders; 4and when they come from the marketplace, except they bathe themselves, they eat not; and many other things there are, which they have received to hold, washings of cups, and pots, and brasen vessels.) 5And the Pharisees and the scribes ask him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with defiled hands? 6And he said unto them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

This people honoreth me with their lips,

But their heart is far from me.

7But in vain do they worship me,

Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.

8Ye leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men. 9And he said unto them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition. 10For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death: 11but ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is Corban, that is to say, Given to God; 12ye no longer suffer him to do aught for his father or his mother; 13making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye do. 14And he called to him the multitude again, and said unto them, Hear me all of you, and understand: 15there is nothing from without the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man. 16If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear. 17And when he was entered into the house from the multitude, his disciples asked of him the parable. 18And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Perceive ye not, that whatsoever from without goeth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19because it goeth not into his heart, but into his belly, and goeth out into the draught? This he said, making all meats clean. 20And he said, That which proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man. 21For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness: 23all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.

24And from thence he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered into a house, and would have no man know it; and he could not be hid. 25But straightway a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet. 26Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she besought him that he would cast forth the demon out of her daughter. 27And he said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs. 28But she answered and saith unto him, Yea, Lord; even the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. 29And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the demon is gone out of thy daughter. 30And she went away unto her house, and found the child laid upon the bed, and the demon gone out.

31And again he went out from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis. 32And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to lay his hand upon him. 33And he took him aside from the multitude privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue; 34and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35And his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it. 37And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well; he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.