A Story about a Farmer
(Mark 4.1-9Luke 8.4-8)1 That same day Jesus left the house and went out beside Lake Galilee, where he sat down to teach. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he had to sit in a boat, while the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he taught them many things by using stories. He said:
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 the plants. 8 But a few seeds did fall on good ground where the plants produced 100 or 60 or 30 times as much as was scattered. 9 If you have ears, pay attention!
Why Jesus Used Stories
(Mark 4.10-12Luke 8.9Luke 10)10 Jesus' disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you use stories to speak to the people?”
11 Jesus answered:
I have explained the secrets about the kingdom of heaven to you, but not to others. 12 Everyone who has something will be given more. But people who don't have anything will lose even what little they have. 13 I use stories when I speak to them because when they look, they cannot see, and when they listen, they cannot hear or understand. 14 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,
“These people will listen
and listen,
but never understand.
They will look and look,
but never see.
15 All of them have
stubborn minds!
They refuse to listen;
they cover their eyes.
They cannot see or hear
or understand.
If they could,
they would turn to me,
and I would heal them.”
16 But God has blessed you, because your eyes can see and your ears can hear! 17 Many prophets and good people were eager to see what you see and to hear what you hear. But I tell you they did not see or hear.
Jesus Explains the Story about the Farmer
(Mark 4.13-20Luke 8.11-15)18 Now listen to the meaning of the story about the farmer:
19 The seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message about the kingdom, but don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the message from their hearts. 20 The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it at once. 21 But they don't have deep roots, and they don't last very long. As soon as life gets hard or the message gets them in trouble, they give up.
22 The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life and are fooled by the desire to get rich. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything. 23 The seeds that fell on good ground are the people who hear and understand the message. They produce as much as 100 or 60 or 30 times what was planted.
Weeds among the Wheat
24 Jesus then told them this story:
The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a farmer scattered good seed in a field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and scattered weed seeds in the field and then left.
26 When the plants came up and began to mature, the farmer's servants could see the weeds. 27 The servants came and asked, “Sir, didn't you scatter good seed in your field? Where did these weeds come from?”
28 “An enemy did this,” he replied.
His servants then asked, “Do you want us to go out and pull up the weeds?”
29 “No!” he answered. “You might also pull up the wheat. 30 Leave the weeds alone until harvest time. Then I'll tell my workers to gather the weeds and tie them up and burn them. But I'll order them to store the wheat in my barn.”
Stories about a Mustard Seed and Yeast
(Mark 4.30-32Luke 13.18-21)31 Jesus told them another story:
The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a farmer plants a mustard seed in a field. 32 Although it is the smallest of all seeds, it grows larger than any garden plant and becomes a tree. Birds even come and nest on its branches.
33 Jesus also said:
The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a woman mixes a little yeast into three big batches of flour. Finally, all the dough rises.
The Reason for Teaching with Stories
(Mark 4.33Mark 34)34 Jesus used stories when he spoke to the people. In fact, he did not tell them anything without using stories. 35 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet had said,
“I will use stories
to speak my message
and to explain things hidden
since the creation
of the world.”
Jesus Explains the Story about the Weeds
36 After Jesus left the crowd and went inside, his disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the story about the weeds in the wheat field.”
37 Jesus answered:
The one who scattered the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seeds are the people who belong to the kingdom. The weeds are those who belong to the evil one, 39 and the one who scattered them is the devil. The harvest is the end of time, and angels are the ones who bring in the harvest.
40 Weeds are gathered and burned. That's how it will be at the end of time. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everyone who does wrong or causes others to sin. 42 Then he will throw them into a flaming furnace, where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain. 43 But everyone who has done right will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. If you have ears, pay attention!
A Hidden Treasure
44 The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when someone finds a treasure hidden in a field and buries it again. Such a person is happy and goes and sells everything in order to buy that field.
A Valuable Pearl
45 The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a shop owner is looking for fine pearls. 46 After finding a very valuable one, the owner goes and sells everything in order to buy that pearl.
A Fish Net
47 The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a net is thrown into a lake and catches all kinds of fish. 48 When the net is full, it is dragged to the shore, and the fishermen sit down to separate the fish. They keep the good ones, but throw the bad ones away. 49 That's how it will be at the end of time. Angels will come and separate the evil people from the ones who have done right. 50 Then those evil people will be thrown into a flaming furnace, where they will cry and grit their teeth in pain.
New and Old Treasures
51 Jesus asked his disciples if they understood all these things. They said, “Yes, we do.”
52 So he told them, “Every student of the Scriptures who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like someone who brings out new and old treasures from the storeroom.”
The People of Nazareth Turn against Jesus
(Mark 6.1-6Luke 4.16-30)53 When Jesus had finished telling these stories, he left 54 and went to his hometown. He taught in their synagogue, and the people were so amazed that they asked, “Where does he get all this wisdom and the power to work these miracles? 55 Isn't he the son of the carpenter? Isn't Mary his mother, and aren't James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers? 56 Don't his sisters still live here in our town? How can he do all this?” 57 So the people were upset because of what he was doing.
But Jesus said, “Prophets are honored by everyone, except the people of their hometown and their own family.” 58 And because the people did not have any faith, Jesus did not work many miracles there.
Ŋen ŋəwujənu ŋed̶a igi gabəd̶a ŋwored̶a
(Margus 4:1-9Luka 8:4-8)1 Na loman lakəl Yesu nəŋəməñe eɽa nəŋəɽaŋe alo d̶əbarlda nano d̶oɽra ṯa aŋërrəŋaici led̶a ŋen. 2 Na led̶a lwaiña larraid̶o ŋu nano, nṯia gënəŋu nəŋënṯi id̶əpundr d̶eŋau nəŋəɽaŋe alo. Na led̶a pred̶ ṯaləṯuru nëṯəndia. 3 Na gënəŋu nəŋələɽwatiṯi ŋen ŋwaiña ŋenŋa iŋi ŋəwujənu, nəŋaṯa, “Ed̶a gənəŋ gabəɽo ŋen ŋanṯa aŋabəd̶e ŋwored̶a. 4 Na ndə gabəd̶əlo ŋəmaṯan nəŋəreinialo ed̶ad̶, na ndəfia nela nəloṯe. 5 Ŋwored̶a ŋəmaṯan nəŋəreinialo eŋwandra d̶ud̶a d̶ətëfr, nəŋobəd̶e taltal ŋen ŋanṯa d̶ud̶a d̶ətëfr. 6 Orn ndə ëd̶əñina yetwod̶o ibwa niluɽi nəŋəmud̶iṯi aŋəno ŋen ŋanṯa urldia gero gəfid̶ia alo yoliano. 7 Ŋwored̶a ŋəmaṯan nəŋəreinialo iri, orn ri ndrətwod̶e ndrləkëndi. 8 Ŋəmaṯan nəŋəreinialo id̶ud̶a d̶əŋəra, nəŋobəd̶e nəŋələŋe ləd̶ia lwaiña. Ŋəmaṯan ŋaləŋo ləd̶ia ered̶ia red̶ na ŋəmaṯan ŋaləŋo ləd̶ia ered̶ia d̶enəŋ nalo ered̶ia gonto, na ŋəmaṯan ŋaləŋo ləd̶ia ered̶ia giɽijin. 9 Ŋgiṯr ed̶a igi gerṯo nënəñia aŋəne ŋen iŋi!”
Ŋen ŋəŋen ŋəwujənu
(Margus 4:10-12Luka 8:9-10)10 Orn ṯaləmis ilëɽəŋu niyela nemeɽəd̶e ṯa, “Ŋen ŋanṯau agəlwaɽəṯu led̶a ŋen ŋəwujənu?” 11 Na gënəŋu nəŋəluɽəbiṯi eŋen nəŋaṯa, “Ŋen ŋaneinənde ṯa ñaləŋeṯe ŋaməɽa ŋəŋələŋe ŋelo, orn ŋero ŋəlneinia. 12 Ŋen ŋanṯa ed̶a gerṯo laŋge gid̶i aŋəlneini ləmən təŋ, na gid̶i aŋəlerṯe lwaiña, orn ed̶a gero laŋge, waŋge gətëfr gəlëɽəŋu gid̶i aŋəmeini. 13 Ŋen ŋafəṯia igalwaɽəṯia ŋen ŋəwujənu ŋen ŋanṯa aləseici, orn lderṯe ləseicia, na ṯa alne, orn lderṯe lənna walla lələŋeṯa. 14 Ŋen iŋi Isaiya gəlwaɽo aŋəɽiñad̶eini iŋulu, iŋi ŋaṯa,
‘Đeṯəm ñagid̶i ñane, orn ñagaber ñagid̶i ñaləŋeṯe,
na d̶eṯəm ñagid̶i ñaseid̶i, orn ñagaber ñagid̶i ñaseid̶i.
15 Ŋen ŋanṯa ŋəṯəɽa ŋəled̶a ildi ŋaɽo təgətəg, na laɽo ndul,
na laldanḏeinu isi ṯa alerṯe ləseid̶ia isiya esen,
na alerṯe lənna nënəñiana enen, na ṯa alerṯe lələŋeṯa eŋəṯəɽa eŋen na ṯa alerṯe ləŋgiṯia ŋen eŋen ŋeicia, ṯa iləyeid̶i’.”
16 Yesu nəŋəlwaɽəṯi ṯaləmis məldin ṯa, “Ñagaŋəra nano ŋen ŋanṯa, isi esalo yaseid̶ia, na nënəñia enalo naŋəra nano ŋen ŋanṯa nanna. 17 Đeṯəm igandəlwaɽəṯia ṯa, anəbiya ywaiña na led̶a lwaiña ildi ləd̶urwaṯo eŋen lafo lwonaṯa ləseicia ŋen iŋi ñagəseicia, orn lero ləseicia, na lafo lwonaṯa lənna ŋen iŋi ñagənna, orn lero lənna.
Ŋen Yesu gërrəŋaicu led̶a ŋen ŋəwujənu ŋed̶a igi gabəd̶a ŋwored̶a
(Margus 4:13-20Luka 8:11-15)18 “Nṯia ñaŋ, nər ŋen ŋəwujənu ŋed̶a igi gabəd̶o ŋwored̶a. 19 Ndə ed̶a gənəŋ gəno ŋen ŋəŋələŋe ŋə-Rəmwa orn nəŋerṯe gələŋeṯa, Seṯan niyela nemamaṯe ŋen ŋabəd̶ənu egare gəlëɽəŋu. Gënəŋu garno ŋwored̶a iŋi ŋəreinu alo ed̶ad̶. 20 Ŋwored̶a iŋi ŋəreinu alo eŋwandr, ŋarno ed̶a igi gəno ŋen nəŋëndi taltal d̶əŋərad̶a nano. 21 Orn gënəŋu gero urldia, nəŋëndi ŋen liga lobəlano, na ndə ŋen ŋətwod̶o ŋabɽwaŋəno walla gəneinu ŋen ŋubwa ŋen ŋanṯa ŋen ŋə-Rəmwa, gënəŋu nəŋgiṯi ŋen taltal. 22 Ŋwored̶a iŋi ŋəreinu alo iri ŋarno ed̶a igi gəno ŋen ŋə-Rəmwa, orn d̶əgərd̶ia d̶alo isi na d̶wonaṯa d̶əlaŋge lwaiña ldëndi ŋen, na ŋen nəŋerṯe ŋələŋa ləd̶ia. 23 Ŋwored̶a iŋi ŋəreinu id̶ud̶a d̶əŋəra, ŋarno ed̶a igi gəno ŋen ŋə-Rəmwa na nəŋələŋeṯe, fəŋu igi gəmama ləd̶ia lwaiña eŋen ŋə-Rəmwa. Ed̶a gənəŋ gamama led̶a ered̶ia red̶, na ed̶a gənəŋ gamama led̶a ered̶ia d̶enəŋ nalo ered̶ia gonto, na ed̶a gənəŋ gamama led̶a ered̶ia giɽijin.”
Ŋen ŋəwujənu ŋəṯoɽwar
24 Yesu nəŋəlwaɽəṯi ŋen ŋwomən ŋəwujənu nəŋaṯa, “Ŋen ŋəŋələŋe ŋelo ŋarno maje gənəŋ igii gəwad̶o ŋwana ŋəŋəra igii gəlëɽəŋu. 25 Orn iliga uləŋgi led̶a ləndro, ed̶a gənəŋ gəgeiyema nəŋela nəŋəwad̶e ṯoɽwar eŋwana igii nəgabəla. 26 Ndə ŋwana ŋobəd̶o nəŋwonḏaice, na ṯoɽwar nḏobəd̶e com. 27 Na ləbai ləmaje ldela ldəmalwaɽəṯi ṯa, ‘Ya eləŋ gerṯe agawad̶o ŋwana ŋəŋəra igii gəlaɽəŋa orn ṯoɽwar d̶eṯo ŋga?’ 28 Maje nəŋəleiṯi ṯa, ‘Ed̶a gənəŋ igi gəgeiyeiñe fəŋu gid̶u ŋen iŋi’. Ləbai ldəmeɽəd̶e ldaṯa, ‘Agwonaṯa ñagəbəla ñaləcəd̶aṯe alo?’ 29 Orn maje nəŋaṯa, ‘Ndo, ŋen ŋanṯa aŋgaica ñagid̶i ñaləcəd̶aṯe alo ŋwanaŋa. 30 Orn ŋgiṯərldo altwod̶e ndəm. Na iliga ləd̶wanḏa igid̶i ilwaɽəṯi led̶a ildi lwanḏa ṯa, mbər ñaicəd̶aṯe ṯoɽwar alo ananoŋ ñakase ñakëɽi isia, orn ñwanḏe ŋwana ñalakëɽici ed̶warra d̶əlëɽəñi’.”
Ŋen ŋəwujənu ŋəŋolwa ŋalkarḏal
(Margus 4:30-32Luka 13:18-19)31 Yesu nəŋəlwaɽəṯi ŋen ŋwomən ŋəwujənu nəŋaṯa, “Ŋələŋe ŋelo ŋarno ŋolwa ŋəkarḏal iŋi ŋərresi kaiñ ŋəməñaṯo lorəba pred̶, iŋi maje gənəŋ gakad̶o ejənena. 32 Orn ŋolwa iŋi nəŋobəd̶e nəŋəɽeṯe uɽi goɽra kaiñ, na ndəfia nelo nela nəɽaŋe ndreṯia rəlëɽəŋu.”
Ŋen ŋəwujənu ŋud̶əɽi
(Luka 13:20-21)33 Yesu nəŋəlwaɽəṯi ŋen ŋwomən ŋəwujənu nəŋaṯa, “Ŋələŋe ŋelo ŋarno ud̶əɽi igi wuji gəmo nəŋënəci egaicəba garno igəsafiya iɽijin, ṯa aŋəmiñi aicəbano pred̶.”
Ŋen Yesu gəɽwato ŋen ŋəwujənu
(Margus 4:33-34)34 Yesu gaɽwatiṯu led̶a ŋen iŋi pred̶ ŋenŋa ŋəwujənu, na gero gələɽwatiṯia ŋen ŋənəŋ, illi ŋenŋa ŋəwujənu, 35 Gid̶u ṯia ṯa ŋen aŋəɽiñəd̶eini iŋi Isaiya gəlwaɽo ndə gaṯa, “Igid̶i eɽwate ŋen ŋəwujənu, na igid̶i elwaɽe ŋen pəlelo iŋi ŋələbijənu liga alo yid̶ənu na d̶əñid̶i məldin.”
Đërrəŋaid̶ia d̶əŋen ŋəwujənu ŋəṯoɽwar
36 Ndə Yesu gəŋgaṯo eled̶a nəŋënṯi egeɽa. Na ṯaləmis nemeṯa nano nemeɽəd̶e niyaṯa, “Aŋaicənde ŋen iŋi ŋəwujənu ŋəṯoɽwar id̶i d̶əfo igii.” 37 Gënəŋu nəŋəluɽəbiṯi eŋen nəŋaṯa, “Ed̶a gəwad̶o ŋwana ŋəŋəra, fəŋu Id̶ia gə-Led̶a. 38 Gii gaɽo alo, na ŋwana igi ŋəŋəra ŋaɽo ləd̶ia ləŋələŋe ŋə-Rəmwa, ṯoɽwar d̶aɽo ləd̶ia lə-Seṯan na ed̶a igi gəɽo egeiya gəwad̶o ṯoɽwar fəŋu Seṯan, 39 na d̶wanḏa d̶afia ndə liga ləməndad̶o, na fəmalaiyəka isi ywanḏa. 40 Ŋen ŋarno ṯoɽwar d̶aicəd̶einialo nḏuɽəni, nṯia com ŋen ŋid̶i aŋəfeṯe ndə liga ildi ləməndëd̶ənu. 41 Id̶ia gə-Led̶a gid̶i aŋəd̶waṯe malaiyəka ilëɽəŋu eŋələŋe ŋəlëɽəŋu, na yënəŋulu yid̶i aiyərarreid̶i led̶a pred̶ ildi lërruwəṯu led̶a eŋen ŋeicia, na led̶a pred̶ ildi lid̶u ŋen ŋeicia, 42 na yid̶i aiyəlërruwəṯi isia, ŋwal na d̶əsaṯa eŋad̶ lid̶i aləfeṯe alo yakəl. 43 Nṯia led̶a ləd̶urwaṯo eŋen lid̶i aləwad̶ialo larno ëd̶əñina eŋələŋe ŋ-Eṯen. Ŋgiṯr led̶a ildi lerṯo nënəñia alne ŋen iŋi.
Ŋen ŋəwujənu ŋəlaŋge lwaiña iliano, na ŋəlulu na ŋəyar
44 “Ŋen ŋəŋələŋe ŋelo ŋarno laŋge lələbijənu igii lwaiña iliano kaiñ ildi maje gənəŋ gəfid̶əlo nəŋələbəce. Gënəŋu nəŋəreṯe nano nəŋəɽe nəŋəṯwe laŋge əllëɽəŋu, na nəŋilid̶i gii gakəl.
45 “Na com, ŋen ŋəŋələŋe ŋelo ŋarno ed̶a gənəŋ igi gəbapwaiña ŋwandra ŋəbërnia lulu iŋi ŋwaiña iliano. 46 Orn ndə gəfid̶u lulu lonto lwaiña iliano kaiñ, gënəŋu nəŋəṯwe laŋge pred̶ əllëɽəŋu nəŋilid̶i lulu.
47 “Na com, ŋen ŋəŋələŋe ŋelo ŋarno yar isi yəwujənu ed̶əbarlda d̶oɽra niyëndi ləmme lwaiña ɽetəɽeteo.Yar yeləmme na d̶əpundria d̶eŋau 48 Ndə yar ywunḏeinu, led̶a ldəbəled̶eṯe nëṯəndi ldəɽaŋe alo ldərarreid̶i ləmme ləŋəra eŋuməra, orn ldəlërruwəṯi ildi leicia. 49 Ŋen ŋid̶i aŋəfeṯe ṯia ndə liga ildi ləməndëd̶ənu. Malaiyəka yid̶i aiyela aiyəɽandəd̶e led̶a ano leicia eled̶a ləd̶urwaṯo eŋen, 50 na yid̶i aiyërruwəṯi led̶a leicia isia. Đara na d̶əsaṯa eŋad̶ lid̶i aləfeṯe tu.”
Ŋen ŋəlaŋge ləmaijən na laŋge ləram
51 Yesu nəŋeɽəd̶e ṯaləmis nəŋaṯa, “Ñagaləŋeṯo ŋen iŋi pred̶?” Yënəŋulu nimeiṯi ṯa, “A.” 52 Na gënəŋu nəŋəleiṯi ṯa, “Led̶a pred̶ ildi ləbërrəŋaid̶ia ŋen ŋ-Alganun ildi lërrəŋeinu ŋen ŋəŋələŋe ŋelo larno ed̶a gerṯo eɽa igi gəmama laŋge egworəb ləmaijən na ləram elaŋge ildi lëɽənu aləsoŋ.”
Ŋen Yesu gənid̶ənu alo yi-Nasəraṯ
(Margus 6:1-6Luka 4:16-30)53 Na ndə Yesu gəɽwato ŋen iŋi pred̶ ŋəwujənu d̶əge, nəŋəməñe alo yakəl. 54 Na gënəŋu nəŋeṯa təŋgen nəŋërrəŋaici led̶a ŋen emajma. Na led̶a ldirəwano kaiñ ldaṯa, “Gënəŋu garno d̶ələŋeṯa ŋen nəsi na aŋwara isi ŋga? 55 Gerṯe fəŋu id̶ia ged̶a igi geicəd̶a? Gerṯe ləŋgen gəbërnia Mariam, na lorlden lərrwa ləbërnia Yagub, na Yusif, na Siman, na Yaud̶a? 56 Na gerṯe lorəba əllëɽəŋu pred̶ əɽəlda ñagəfəlda? Nṯia garno ŋga ŋen iŋi pred̶.” 57 Na ldəmaned̶e. Orn Yesu nəŋəleiṯi ṯa, “Nabi gənaneinia d̶amia alo pred̶ illi təŋgen, na egeɽa gəlëɽəŋu.” 58 Na gënəŋu gero gəbəd̶ia aŋwara ywaiña alo yakəl, ŋen ŋanṯa led̶a lero ləberṯia d̶wonaṯa.