A Story about a Farmer
(Matthew 13.1-9Luke 8.4-8)1 The next time Jesus taught beside Lake Galilee, a big crowd gathered. It was so large that he had to sit in a boat out on the lake, while the people stood on the shore. 2 He used stories to teach them many things, and this is part of what he taught:
3 Now listen! A farmer went out to scatter seed in a field. 4 While the farmer was scattering the seed, some of it fell along the road and was eaten by birds. 5 Other seeds fell on thin, rocky ground and quickly started growing because the soil wasn't very deep. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched and dried up, because they did not have deep roots. 7 Some other seeds fell where thornbushes grew up and choked out the plants. So they did not produce any grain. 8 But a few seeds did fall on good ground where the plants grew and produced 30 or 60 or even 100 times as much as was scattered.
9 Then Jesus said, “If you have ears, pay attention.”
Why Jesus Used Stories
(Matthew 13.10-17Luke 8.9Luke 10)10 When Jesus was alone with the twelve apostles and some others, they asked him about these stories. 11 He answered:
I have explained the secret about God's kingdom to you, but for others I can use only stories. 12 The reason is,
“These people will look
and look, but never see.
They will listen and listen,
but never understand.
If they did,
they would turn to God
and be forgiven.”
Jesus Explains the Story about the Farmer
(Matthew 13.18-23Luke 8.11-15)13 Jesus then told them:
If you don't understand this story, you won't understand any others. 14 What the farmer is spreading is really the message about the kingdom. 15 The seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message. But Satan soon comes and snatches it away from them. 16 The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it at once. 17 But they don't have roots, and they don't last very long. As soon as life gets hard or the message gets them in trouble, they give up.
18 The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. 19 But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything. 20 The seeds that fell on good ground are the people who hear and welcome the message. They produce 30 or 60 or even 100 times as much as was planted.
Light
(Luke 8.16-18)21 Jesus also said:
You don't light a lamp and put it under a clay pot or under a bed. Don't you put a lamp on a lampstand? 22 There is nothing hidden that will not be made public. There is no secret that will not be well known. 23 If you have ears, pay attention!
24 Listen carefully to what you hear! The way you treat others will be the way you will be treated—and even worse. 25 Everyone who has something will be given more. But people who don't have anything will lose what little they have.
Another Story about Seeds
26 Again Jesus said:
God's kingdom is like what happens when a farmer scatters seed in a field. 27 The farmer sleeps at night and is up and around during the day. Yet the seeds keep sprouting and growing, and he doesn't understand how. 28 It is the ground that makes the seeds sprout and grow into plants that produce grain. 29 Then when harvest season comes and the grain is ripe, the farmer cuts it with a sickle.
A Mustard Seed
(Matthew 13.31Matthew 32Luke 13.18Luke 19)30 Finally, Jesus said:
What is God's kingdom like? What story can I use to explain it? 31 It is like what happens when a mustard seed is planted in the ground. It is the smallest seed in all the world. 32 But once it is planted, it grows larger than any garden plant. It even puts out branches that are big enough for birds to nest in its shade.
The Reason for Teaching with Stories
(Matthew 13.34Matthew 35)33 Jesus used many other stories when he spoke to the people, and he taught them as much as they could understand. 34 He did not tell them anything without using stories. But when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.
A Storm
(Matthew 8.23-27Luke 8.22-25)35 That evening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let's cross to the east side.” 36 So they left the crowd, and his disciples started across the lake with him in the boat. Some other boats followed along. 37 Suddenly a storm struck the lake. Waves started splashing into the boat, and it was about to sink.
38 Jesus was in the back of the boat with his head on a pillow, and he was asleep. His disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don't you care that we're about to drown?”
39 Jesus got up and ordered the wind and the waves to be quiet. The wind stopped, and everything was calm.
40 Jesus asked his disciples, “Why were you afraid? Don't you have any faith?”
41 Now they were more afraid than ever and said to each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Mǝthǝl kwǝṯhi kwar kwugwuuṯhu ŋwɔɔla.
(Maṯṯa 13:1-9Luuga 8:4-8)1 Nɔŋwsi ǝccǝ @allima kwokwony bahara kǝni kwǝthi Jǝliil-ŋwɔ. Nǝ ŋwɔdɔŋw ŋwittǝzir lubǝthǝ naanɔ-ŋgwɔ, mindaŋ nɔŋw ǝnḏi ki-mɔrkǝb-nǝ nɔŋgwɔ naanalɔ ki-bahar-la; e-ta nǝ ŋwɔdɔŋw tatap naani kwurǝyu-lǝ wɔndɔ bahara kǝni. 2 Nɔŋwsi ǝccǝ @allima ŋiɽanali ŋittǝzir ŋir mǝthǝl naana, nǝ ki-ṯa@liim-na ṯuuŋwun, nɔŋwsǝccǝŋw, 3 “Niŋnacar-nyii-ti! Kwɔr kwette kwuruuthu etheele ethi kwɔɔtha ŋwɔɔla. 4 Mɔŋwsi kiithatha tǝ, nǝr iidi ŋwokwo ṯaay kǝni, mindaŋ nǝ ndǝw iila nǝrsi ɔṯanni kworo. 5 Nǝr iidi ŋwɔthaathɔ ki-ŋwiiɽi-na, niti ninaanɔ-gwɔ wurǝyu wuuru mac, nǝr allithanna fittak, kaka niti ninaanɔ-gwɔ wurǝyu wuuru mac; 6 mǝ aaŋwɔn allitha ṯǝ, nǝr ǝrum nǝr ɔndalɔ kwɔrop, kaka niti nɔɔɽasar-gwɔ rɔvɔɔ lac-lac mac. 7 Nǝr iidi ŋwɔthaathɔ ki-yuugwi-nǝ, mindaŋ mǝ yuugwi dallitha nǝrsi firtaŋ, mindaŋ nareere riiɽi mac. 8 Nǝr iidi ŋwɔthaathɔ ki-wurǝyu-nǝ wiccaaw, mindaŋ nǝr allitha, nǝr peŋe, mindaŋ nǝr riiɽi yǝy, ŋwokwo ṯuɽi-wrii, nǝ ruɽi-ṯoɽol, nǝ ruɽi-ṯɔthni.” 9 Nɔŋwsǝccǝŋw, “Kwǝthi yǝni yethi-yi neŋne ethɔŋw neŋne.”
Sǝbǝb kwǝthi amthaal.
(Maṯṯa 13:10-17Luuga 8:9-10)10 Mǝ Yǝcu naanalɔ kwɔtɔpɔt tǝ, nǝr iila lokwo naanɔ-ŋgwɔ liniŋnaca andisar talaamiiz-thi ṯuuŋwun ṯir wrii-kwuɽǝn, nǝr uṯicǝlɔ ethisi uppuci amthaala-na. 11 Nɔŋwsi ǝŋnici nɔŋwsǝccǝŋw, “Ŋaaŋa lirpa limǝrsi ilŋithini ŋejmethi ŋǝthi Ŋeeleny ŋǝthi Allah, laakin lǝthi paŋgala tǝ, ǝrsi neŋne tatap amthaal-yi domony; 12 ŋwɔṯaŋw,
‘Mǝr kinnǝ iccithi dooɽe ǝreere ese too,
na mǝr kinnǝ kette yǝni lǝlu-ttuk,
ǝriseere elŋe too.
Nǝ ǝŋgirsi ǝrri ŋɔ,
ǝŋgir ɔrllatha Allah naana,
mindaŋ ǝŋgwɔ-ŋwsi fivrici ŋikiyaŋi ŋeeŋen kithaay’.”
Yǝcu mɔŋgwɔ uppuci lizi mǝthǝlǝ-nǝ kwǝthi kwɔr kwugwuuthu ŋwɔɔla.
(Maṯṯa 13:18-23Luuga 8:11-15)13 Nɔŋwsi uṯicǝlɔ naŋwsǝccǝŋw, “Ŋiti ŋilŋithi-ŋǝsi ŋǝthi mǝthǝl ŋgwɔ mac-a? E-ta ǝmǝ elŋe amthaala tatap wɔthaathɔ aŋgwɔrɔ? 14 Kwɔr kwugwuuthu-pǝ ŋiɽaŋali ŋǝthi Allah. 15 Nǝr aaɽanni lokwo ŋwɔɔla ŋwiidu ki-thaay-la; mǝr niŋnanni ŋiɽaŋali piyok, ǝṯi Shiiṯaan iilanna tɔc, ǝṯɔŋwsi dimmǝthǝ ŋiɽanali kithaay ŋɔgwɔɔṯhɔna ki-rɔgwor-na reeŋen. 16 Nǝ lithaathɔ nǝr aaɽanni ŋwɔɔla ŋwa ŋwiidu ki-wurǝyu-nǝ wɔnaanɔ ki-ŋwiiɽi-na, mǝr niŋnanni ŋiɽaŋali piyok, ǝṯirsi ǝmmini laamina; 17 laakin mǝreere aɽasi rɔvɔɔ-lɔ lac mac tǝ, ǝṯireere nanni tɔttɔṯ mac. Mǝsi ṯurvǝ ǝnḏiṯhǝ alla ṯǝwɽǝ yey-lɔ ki-ŋiɽaŋal-na ŋɔ, ǝṯirsi duŋgwǝci tɔc kwuɽunyjur. 18 Nǝ kila lithaathɔ lɔgwɔɔthɔna ki-yuugwi-nǝ. Nǝroro kila lǝṯi neŋne ŋiɽaŋali, 19 laakin mǝ ṯurtutunǝnǝ ṯǝthi ṯurmun, nǝ kiiri kǝthi ŋɔrṯɔ, nǝ sɔɔrɔm tatap mǝŋw ǝnḏi ki-rɔgwor-nǝ reeŋen, ǝṯir firtaŋ ŋiɽŋali tetter ŋǝthi Allah, mindaŋ ǝṯireere riiɽi ŋwɔɔla mac. 20 Nǝ kila lugwuuthursi ki-wurǝyu-nǝ wiccaaw. Lindǝr-ṯǝ kila limǝ neŋne ŋiɽaŋali, mindaŋ mǝrsi mithǝ, ǝṯir riiɽi ŋwɔɔla, ŋwokwo ṯuɽi-wrii, ŋwokwo ruɽi-ṯoɽol, nǝ ŋwokwo ruɽi-ṯɔthni.”
Mǝthǝl kwǝthi lombo.
(Luuga 8:16-18)21 Nǝsi Yǝcu ǝccǝŋw, “Lombo lǝṯir mǝnyjǝɔ kwuɽubǝthǝlɔ mǝlwǝ-gi-a; alla lǝṯir kette kwaŋgiraŋ-na? Liti lǝṯir allasi-la kider kǝzir wuuŋwun mac-a? 22 Mǝ kwomne naani kweere kwuluccunǝ ŋwɔ-tǝ ruwǝnnǝlǝ, nǝ mɔŋw naani kweere kwir ŋejmeṯ ŋwɔ-ṯǝ elŋethine. 23 Mɔŋwɔthi kweere yǝni yǝthi-yi neŋne, ǝthɔŋw neŋne.” 24 Nɔŋwsǝccǝŋw kwokwony, “Kitisarsi yǝy ŋa ŋinḏi-nyji ethisi andasi! Gawaaniin-gi ṯǝ ŋga keṯṯi-gi ǝccǝ lithaathɔ haakima, ǝŋǝsi-gi ṯǝ Allah ǝccǝ haakimǝ tok, laakin ŋworo hɔkwɔm wɔraara ṯeṯṯec beṯṯen. 25 Ŋgwǝ kwǝṯhi, ǝri kiɽǝcci, nǝ ŋgwa kwiti kwǝthi mac, ǝri ǝɽinnǝthǝ ŋgwa kwǝthiŋw, mɔŋw-vǝ kinnǝ oro kwokwɔɽoc kaka aatha kweere.”
Mǝthǝl kwǝthi ŋwɔɔla.
26 Nǝtǝ Yǝcu aari isṯimir nɔŋwaarɔŋw, “Ŋeeleny ŋǝthi Allah ŋaaɽnna kwɔɔrɔ kwette kwugwuuthu ŋwɔɔla ki-wurǝyu-nǝ, 27 ǝṯɔŋw nḏiri ŋwaarɔ kilkǝlu, ǝṯɔŋw diiɽi kaaŋwɔn-na, ǝṯi ŋwɔɔla allitha mindaŋ ǝṯir peŋe. Ŋundu tǝ ǝṯɔŋwseere elŋece ŋeere ǝzir mac ŋa ŋǝrrinǝ. 28 Ǝṯi wurǝyu ǝrmini wɔɽe-wɔɽeny; ǝṯi yǝni iŋnanna keereny, nǝ kirda, kwaathan tǝ yǝy kirda-na. 29 Mǝr ɔnḏi tǝ ǝṯɔŋw aavanna kwaabira tɔc, kaka mǝgwɔ lɔɔmɔr ṯimmayini lǝthi ṯɔɔna.”
Mǝthǝl kwǝthi lɔɔla lǝthi kwatta.
(Maṯṯa 13:31-32, Maṯṯa 34Luuga 13:18-19)30 Nǝ Yǝcu ɔṯalɔ nɔŋwɔǝrɔŋw, “Ŋeeleny ŋǝthi Allah ŋaaɽnna aatha? Mǝthǝl kwundǝr kwǝndu kwaaɽinnasi? 31 Ŋaaɽinna lɔɔla lǝthi kwatta, mǝr kwee ki-wurǝyu-nǝ, nɔŋworo lɔɔla lette lokwɔɽoc ki-ŋwɔɔla-la tatap ŋwɔthi ṯurmun; 32 laakin mǝr kwee mindaŋ mɔŋw allitha tǝ, ǝṯɔŋw ṯamthɔ yaaɽi-la tatap, ǝṯɔŋw ruu rill rɔppa mindaŋ ǝṯi ndǝw iila ǝṯir kette yɔɽɔɔ nǝ ǝṯir ɔɔmi ki-tigɽim-nǝ ṯuuŋwun.”
33 Nǝ Yǝcu ǝccǝ lizi bǝshirǝ ŋiɽaŋali ŋuuŋun ŋisaaw, nɔŋw aava amthaala wittǝzir wir kaka ṯǝ wɔ; ṯaŋw nɔŋwsi andaci ŋiɽaŋali ŋiṯṯǝzir ŋir kaka ŋa ŋǝthicǝrsi ŋɔma-na ethisi elŋe. 34 Ǝṯɔŋwseere andica-lɔ domony mac ŋiira amthaala-na, laakin mǝr naani ṯalaamiiz-thi ṯuuŋwun cuk-cuk tǝ, ǝṯɔŋwsi liŋthinǝlɔ por-por.
Yǝcu mɔŋgwɔ biɽǝzi kɔrɔn-ŋwɔci bahar-gilɔ pǝt.
(Maṯṯa 8:23-27Luuga 8:22-25)35 Nǝ ki-laamin-la ṯǝ kila, mǝ kirakalɔ oro tǝ, nɔŋwsǝccǝŋw, “Ǝri ṯamthitha kinǝŋgwu-ŋginǝ.” 36 Mǝr ɔrlǝcci ŋwɔdɔŋw ŋwɔdoŋw, nǝr ǝnḏi ki-mɔrkǝb-nǝ kwɔnaanɔ-gwɔ Yǝcu-nǝ kerreny tuk, mindaŋ nǝr dimmi ŋunduŋw. Nǝ limɔrkǝb naananni lithaathɔ kinaŋw tok. 37 Nǝ kɔrɔn ɔvanna fittak tɔc kɔppa, nǝ ŋaaw ŋilakkathina opɔppe mɔrkǝbǝ nǝr-gwɔ ǝnḏinǝ, mindaŋ nǝ mɔrkǝb aadithi ethi urǝnni. 38 Yǝcu tǝ nɔŋwɔni kwinḏirɔ ki-mɔrkǝb-nǝ kwir yuṯṯu, kwuthugnǝnǝ mɔkhaḏa-gi. Nǝ ṯalaamiiz kiɽiṯi ŋunduŋw nǝrǝccǝŋw, “Yaa Mɔ@allim, ṯɔgwor ṯiti ṯiyathiŋa dǝŋgǝri mac-a, kaka ninḏiny-gwɔ ethi kiirathalɔ-a?” 39 Mɔŋw kiɽiṯi nɔŋw ǝrmici kɔrɔni, nɔŋw-ǝccǝ bahara-ŋw, “Biɽǝthǝlɔ pǝt!” Nǝ kɔrɔn biɽethǝlɔ pǝt, nǝ ǝzir tatṯap biɽǝṯhǝlɔ pǝt tɔc. 40 Nɔŋwsǝccǝŋw, “Aatha kwithiinyicǝ-ŋǝ? A liti lǝthi ṯǝmminǝ mac-a?” 41 Nǝr urǝnni ŋithenya-na deddep, nǝr andasi-na naraarɔŋw, “Ǝyǝ kwɔrɔ manɔ-ŋgwɔ, mindaŋ mǝtǝ kɔrɔn-ŋa bahar-gi aami niŋnaci pappac?”