PARABLE OF THE SOWER

Matthew 13

Mark 4

Luke 8

³ And he said to them many [things] in parables saying:

Behold the sower went out to be sowing. ⁴ And among what he sowed some on the one hand fell by the road, and when the birds came they ate it. ⁵ On the other hand [some] fell on the rocky soil where it did not have much earth, and immediately it sprang up because of not having depth of earth; ⁶ so when the sun rose it was scorched, and because of not having root it was withered. ⁷ On the other hand [some] fell among the thistles, and the thistles came up and choked it. ⁸ On the other hand some fell on the good earth, and was giving fruit, on the one hand hundredfold, on the other sixtyfold, [and] on the other thirtyfold.⁹ The [one having] ears to be hearing, let him be hearing.

¹³ I speak to them in parables because of this: Because looking they do not look, and hearing they do not hear not understand. ¹⁴ And the prophesy of Isaiah is fulfilled in them which said:

Hearing they will hear and will not understand

And looking they will look, and will not see.

¹⁵ For the heart of this people has grown fat

An with their ears they heard with disgust,

And their eyes they have closed Lest they see with their eyes

And understand with their hearts and turn back

And I heal them.

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes because they look, and [your] ears because they hear. ¹⁷ For truly I say to you that many prophets and just men lusted to see what you look at and they did not see, and to hear and they did not hear.

¹⁸ Therefore hear the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand, the wicked [one] comes and carries off what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the road. ²⁰ And what was sown on the rocky soil, this is the one hearing the word and immediately receives it with joy, ²¹ but it has no root in him, but is transitory, so when trouble or persecution comes to pass because of the word, immediately he stumbles. ²² And what was sown in the thistles, this is the one hearing the word, and the concerns of the age and the guile of riches chokes the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²³ But what was sown on the good earth, this is the [one] hearing the word and understanding, who indeed bears fruit and produces on the one hand [a] hundredfold, on the other sixty fold, [and] on the other thirty fold.

² And he was teaching them many [things] in parables, and he was saying to them in his teaching: ³ Be listening: Behold the [one] sowing came out to sow. ⁴ And it came to pass while sowing some fell beside the road, and the birds came and devoured it. ⁵ And other [seed] fell upon the rocky [places], where it was not having much earth, and immediately it sprang up because it was not having depth of earth. ⁶ And when the sun rose it was burned up, and because it was not having root it was withered. ⁷ And other [seed] fell into thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it gave no fruit. ⁸ And others fell into the good earth and coming up and growing it was giving fruit and it was bearing to thirty[fold] and within sixty and within hundred[fold]. ⁹ And he was saying: He who has ears to be hearing, let him be hearing.

¹¹ And he was saying to them: To you the mystery of the kingdom of God has been given, to those outside all things come in parables, ¹² in order that

Looking they look and may not see

And hearing they hear and may not understand

Lest ever they turn around and he forgive them.

¹³ And he says to them: You do not know this parable, how also will you know all the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ But these are those beside the road, how the word is sown, and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes the word having been sown in them. ¹⁶ And these being sown upon the rocky [places] are likewise, which when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy. ¹⁷ And they have no root in themselves, but are temporary, then [when] tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they stumble. ¹⁸ And these are those being sown into the thorns, these are those having heard the word, ¹⁹ and [when] the cares of the age and the deceitfulness of wealth and the lusts [about] the rest enter, they choke the word, and it becomes fruitless. ²⁰ And these are those having been sown upon the good earth, which hear the word and receive [it] and bear fruit in thirty and in sixty and in a hundred.

⁵ The sower went out to sow his seed, and in sowing it some fell by the road and was trampled, and the birds of heaven ate it. ⁶ And other fell on the rocks, and grew, was withered because of not having moisture. ⁷ And other fell in the midst of thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes growing with it choked it. ⁸ And other fell on the good land, and grew produced fruit hundredfold. Saying these [things] he said: The [one] having ears to be hearing let him be hearing.

¹⁰ But he said: To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest in parables, in order that looking they may not look and hearing they may not understand. ¹¹ Now this is the parable. The seed is the word of God. ¹² Now that by the road are those hearing, then comes the devil and takes the word from their hearts, in order that not having believed they [not] be saved. ¹³ And that on the rocks are they who when they hear receive the word with joy, and these do not have root, who for [a] time believe and in time of trial fall away, ¹⁴ so that falling in the thorn bushes, these are those hearing, and proceeding under the cares and riches and pleasures of life they are choked and do not bear fruit. ¹⁵ But that in the good land, these are those in [the] good and sound heart who having heard the word hold fast and bear fruit in patience.

PARABLE OF THE GROWING SEED

Mark 4

²⁶ And he was saying: The kingdom of God is thus, as [a] man throws the seed upon the earth ²⁷ and he sleeps and gets up night and day, the seed sprouts and grows when he did not know it. ²⁸ By itself the land bears fruit, first grass, then [an] ear, then full grain on the ear. ²⁹ When the fruit permits, immediately he sends the sickle because the harvest has come.

PARABLE OF THE WEEDS/TARES

Matthew 13

³⁷ So answering he said: The [one] sowing the good seed is the son of man. ³⁸ And the field is the world, and the good seed these are the sons of the kingdom, and tares are the sons of the wicked [one]. ³⁹ And the enemy who sows these is the devil, and the harvest is the completion of the age, and the harvesters are angels. ⁴⁰ As therefore they gather the tares and burn them in fire, thus it will be in the completion of the age. ⁴¹ The son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all [those] causing stumbling and those doing lawlessness. ⁴² And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. ⁴³ Then the just will shine as the sun in the kingdom of their father. The [one] having ears to be hearing, let him be hearing.

PARABLE OF THE TENANTS

Matthew 21

³³ Hear another parable. [There was a] man [who] was Lord of the house who planted a vineyard and built [a] fence around it, and dug [a] winepress in it and built [a] tower and leased it to vinedressers and went on [a] journey. ³⁴ Now when the time of the fruits drew near, he sent his slaves to the vinedressers to be taking his fruit. ³⁵ And taking his slaves the vinedressers beat one and killed another and stoned another. ³⁶Again he sent other slaves more than the first, and they did to them likewise. ³⁷ And later he sent to them his son saying: They will respect my son. ³⁸ But the vinedressers seeing the son said among themselves: This is the heir. Come let us kill him and we will have his inheritance. ³⁹ And taking him they threw him out of the vineyard and killed [him]. ⁴⁰ When therefore the Lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers? ⁴¹ They say to him: He will badly destroy those evil [ones], and he will lease the vineyard to other vinedressers, who give him the fruits in their own seasons. ⁴² Jesus says to them: Have you never read in the Scriptures:

The stone that the builders rejected

This became the head of the cornerstones.

By the Lord this came to pass

And is a wonder in our eyes.

⁴³ Because of this I say to you that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to [a] nation producing the fruits of it. ⁴⁴ And the [one] falling on this stone will be dashed to pieces, and upon whom it falls, it will crush him.

PARABLE OF THE LOST SON

Luke 15

¹¹ But I say to you, a certain man was having two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to the father: Father, give to me the portion of the wealth falling to me. So he divided to them the living. ¹³ And after not many days having gathered everything the younger son journeyed to [a] far country, and there he squandered his wealth zoe-living loosely. ¹⁴ So when he spent all [a] severe famine came to pass against that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ And having gone he joined to one of the citizens of that country and he sent him into his fields to be grazing the pigs. ¹⁶ And he was desiring to fill his belly with pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving [anything] to him. ¹⁷ But coming to himself he said: How many servants of my father have abundance of bread, but I am perishing here in [a] famine. ¹⁸ Having arisen I will go to my father and will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, ¹⁹ no longer am I worthy to be called your son, make me as one [of your] hired-hands. ²⁰ And having arisen he came to his own father. But while he was being distant afar his father saw him and had compassion, and having run fell upon his neck and kissed him. ²¹ But the son said to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, ²² But the father said to his slaves: Swiftly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and give [a] ring for his hand and sandals for his feet, ²³ and be bringing the fatted calf, kill [it], and having eaten let us make merry. ²⁴ For this my son was dead and is alive again, was lost and is found. And he began to be making merry. ²⁵ Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came he drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dance, ²⁶ and calling upon one of the servants he inquired what this might be. ²⁷ But he said to him that his brother has arrived, and your father killed the fatted calf, for he had received him back sound. ²⁸ But he was enraged and did not want to enter. So his father having come out called upon him. ²⁹ But answering he said to the father: Behold so many years I am slaving-to you and never transgressed your commandment, and for me you have never given [a] goat that I may make merry with my friends. ³⁰ But when this your son who consumed your living with prostitutes came, you killed for him the fatted calf. ³¹ But he said to him: Child, you are always with me, and all mine is yours. ³² But it was necessary to make merry and rejoice, for this your brother was dead and has returned to zoe-life, and was lost and is found.

PARABLE OF THE SHREWD MANAGER

Luke 16

¹ So he said to his disciples: A certain man was rich who was having [a] steward, and this [one] was slandered to him as squandering his possessions. ² And having called him he said: What is this I hear concerning you? Render account [of your] stewardship. For you are not able to be stewarding further. ³ But the steward said in himself: What will I do? For I have not the strength to dig ditches, [and] I am ashamed to beg. ⁴ I know what I will do, in order that when I am removed from the stewardship they receive me into their own houses. ⁵ And when he called each one of his own Lord's debtors he was saying to the first: How much do you owe my Lord? ⁶ But he said: [a] hundred baths or oil. So he said to him: Take the [promissory] note and having sat, quickly write fifty. ⁷ Then he said to the other: So how much do you owe? And he said: One hundred cors of wheat. He says to him: Take your [promissory] note and write eighty. ⁸ And the Lord praised the servant of injustice, for he did shrewdly, for the sons of this age are more shrewd than the sons of light in their own generation.

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS

Luke 16

¹⁹ But a certain man was rich, and he had put on purple garments and fine linen enjoying himself each day splendidly. ²⁰ But a certain poor [man] by name Lazarus had been cast to his gate being covered with ulcerous sores. ²¹ And he was lusting to be filled from that falling from the table of the rich [one]; but even the dogs coming were licking his ulcerous sores. ²² Now it came to pass the poor [man] died and was gathered by the angels to Abraham's lap; but the rich [man] also died and was buried. ²³ And in Hades lifting up his eyes, being in torment, he sees Abraham from afar and Lazarus in his lap, ²⁴ and having called out he said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus in order that he dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I suffer torment in this flame. ²⁵ But Abraham said: Child, remember that you received your good [things] in your zoe-life, and likewise Lazarus the evil. But now he is encouraged, and you suffer torment. ²⁶ And in all those [things] between you [people] and us [a] great chasm is fixed, so that those wishing to go down from here to you be not able, nor from there to us may not cross over. ²⁷ But he said: I ask you therefore, Father, in order that you may sent him to my fathers house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, that he may warn them, that they also not come to this place of torment. ²⁹ But Abraham says: They have Moses and the prophets, let him hear from them. ³⁰ But he said: No, father Abraham, but if someone proceed from [the] dead to them: they would repent. ³¹ But he said to them: If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither would they be persuaded if someone rise from the dead.

PARABLE OF THE PERSISTENT WIDOW

Luke 18

¹ Now he was saying to them [a] parable to it being necessary they always be praying and not be giving up, saying: A certain judge not fearing God and not respecting men was in a certain city. ³ Now [a] widow was in that city, and she was coming to him saying: Vindicate me from my opponents. ⁴ And he did not want to for [a] time, but after these [things] he said in himself: If even God I do not fear nor have regard for men, ⁵ because this widow causes me trouble will I vindicate her, in order that she not finally wear me out. ⁶ So the Lord said: Hear what the judge of injustice says. ⁷ But would God not do the vindication of his chosen who are crying out to him day and night, and be forbearing upon them? ⁸ I say to you that he will do their vindication quickly. However, will the coming son of man find faith upon the land?