It's Time to Plant

Finding God’s Love in Our Wounds

Navigating Challenges in Christian Friendships and Relationships

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Resilience and Faith: 7 Empowering Lessons for Women From the Book of Job

Reading With the People of God #8 Peace

Advent Devotional: Make Room for Jesus

Peace

Rejoice: Celebrating the Season of Advent

Celebrating the Season of Gratitude as a Family

The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch24" data-usfm="MAT.24">
 <div class="label">24</div><div class="s1">The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times</div><div class="p"> 1Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2&#8220;Do you see all these things?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. &#8220;Tell us,&#8221; they said, &#8220;when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 4Jesus answered: &#8220;Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, &#8216;I am the Messiah,&#8217; and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.</div><div class="p"> 9 &#8220;Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.</div><div class="p"> 15 &#8220;So when you see standing in the holy place &#8216;the abomination that causes desolation,&#8217; # 24:15 
 Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 spoken of through the prophet Daniel&#8212;let the reader understand&#8212; 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now&#8212;and never to be equaled again.</div><div class="p"> 22 &#8220;If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23At that time if anyone says to you, &#8216;Look, here is the Messiah!&#8217; or, &#8216;There he is!&#8217; do not believe it. 24For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25See, I have told you ahead of time.</div><div class="p"> 26 &#8220;So if anyone tells you, &#8216;There he is, out in the wilderness,&#8217; do not go out; or, &#8216;Here he is, in the inner rooms,&#8217; do not believe it. 27For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.</div><div class="p"> 29 &#8220;Immediately after the distress of those days</div><div class="q1"> &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;the sun will be darkened,</div><div class="q2"> and the moon will not give its light;</div><div class="q1"> the stars will fall from the sky,</div><div class="q2"> and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.&#8217; # 24:29 
 Isaiah 13:10; 34:4 </div><div class="p"> 30 &#8220;Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth # 24:30 Or the tribes of the land will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.#24:30 See Daniel 7:13-14. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.</div><div class="p"> 32 &#8220;Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it#24:33 Or he is near, right at the door. 34Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.</div><div class="s1">The Day and Hour Unknown</div><div class="p"> 36 &#8220;But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, # 24:36 Some manuscripts do not have nor the Son. but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.</div><div class="p"> 42 &#8220;Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.</div><div class="p"> 45 &#8220;Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, &#8216;My master is staying away a long time,&#8217; 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch25" data-usfm="MAT.25">
 <div class="label">25</div><div class="s1">The Parable of the Ten Virgins</div><div class="p"> 1 &#8220;At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.</div><div class="p"> 6 &#8220;At midnight the cry rang out: &#8216;Here&#8217;s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 7 &#8220;Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, &#8216;Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 9 &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;No,&#8217; they replied, &#8216;there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 10 &#8220;But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.</div><div class="p"> 11 &#8220;Later the others also came. &#8216;Lord, Lord,&#8217; they said, &#8216;open the door for us!&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 12 &#8220;But he replied, &#8216;Truly I tell you, I don&#8217;t know you.&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 13 &#8220;Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.</div><div class="s1">The Parable of the Bags of Gold</div><div class="p"> 14 &#8220;Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,#25:15 Greek five talents&#8230; two talents&#8230; one talent; also throughout this parable; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer&#8217;s wage. each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master&#8217;s money.</div><div class="p"> 19 &#8220;After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. &#8216;Master,&#8217; he said, &#8216;you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 21 &#8220;His master replied, &#8216;Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master&#8217;s happiness!&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 22 &#8220;The man with two bags of gold also came. &#8216;Master,&#8217; he said, &#8216;you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 23 &#8220;His master replied, &#8216;Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master&#8217;s happiness!&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 24 &#8220;Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. &#8216;Master,&#8217; he said, &#8216;I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 26 &#8220;His master replied, &#8216;You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.</div><div class="p"> 28 &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.&#8217;</div><div class="s1">The Sheep and the Goats</div><div class="p"> 31 &#8220;When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.</div><div class="p"> 34 &#8220;Then the King will say to those on his right, &#8216;Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 37 &#8220;Then the righteous will answer him, &#8216;Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 40 &#8220;The King will reply, &#8216;Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 41 &#8220;Then he will say to those on his left, &#8216;Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 44 &#8220;They also will answer, &#8216;Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 45 &#8220;He will reply, &#8216;Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.&#8217;</div><div class="p"> 46 &#8220;Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMAT">
 <div class="chapter ch28" data-usfm="MAT.28">
 <div class="label">28</div><div class="s1">Jesus Has Risen</div><div class="p"> 1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.</div><div class="p"> 2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.</div><div class="p"> 5The angel said to the women, &#8220;Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: &#8216;He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.&#8217; Now I have told you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. &#8220;Greetings,&#8221; he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, &#8220;Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Guards&#8217; Report</div><div class="p"> 11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13telling them, &#8220;You are to say, &#8216;His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.&#8217; 14If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.&#8221; 15So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.</div><div class="s1">The Great Commission</div><div class="p"> 16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, &#8220;All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMRK">
 <div class="chapter ch1" data-usfm="MRK.1">
 <div class="label">1</div><div class="s1">John the Baptist Prepares the Way</div><div class="p"> 1The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,#1:1 Or Jesus Christ. Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean Anointed One. the Son of God,#1:1 Some manuscripts do not have the Son of God. 2as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;I will send my messenger ahead of you,</div><div class="q2">who will prepare your way&#8221;#1:2 Mal. 3:1&#8212;</div><div class="q1"> 3&#8220;a voice of one calling in the wilderness,</div><div class="q1">&#8216;Prepare the way for the Lord,</div><div class="q2">make straight paths for him.&#8217;&#8198;&#8221;#1:3 Isaiah 40:3</div><div class="m"> 4And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John wore clothing made of camel&#8217;s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7And this was his message: &#8220;After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptize you with#1:8 Or in water, but he will baptize you with#1:8 Or in the Holy Spirit.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Baptism and Testing of Jesus</div><div class="p"> 9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven: &#8220;You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 12At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted#1:13 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested. by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Announces the Good News</div><div class="p"> 14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15&#8220;The time has come,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Calls His First Disciples</div><div class="p"> 16As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17&#8220;Come, follow me,&#8221; Jesus said, &#8220;and I will send you out to fish for people.&#8221; 18At once they left their nets and followed him.</div><div class="p"> 19When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit</div><div class="p"> 21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24&#8220;What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are&#8212;the Holy One of God!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 25 &#8220;Be quiet!&#8221; said Jesus sternly. &#8220;Come out of him!&#8221; 26The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.</div><div class="p"> 27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, &#8220;What is this? A new teaching&#8212;and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.&#8221; 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Heals Many</div><div class="p"> 29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30Simon&#8217;s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.</div><div class="p"> 32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place</div><div class="p"> 35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37and when they found him, they exclaimed: &#8220;Everyone is looking for you!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 38Jesus replied, &#8220;Let us go somewhere else&#8212;to the nearby villages&#8212;so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.&#8221; 39So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy</div><div class="p"> 40A man with leprosy#1:40 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin. came to him and begged him on his knees, &#8220;If you are willing, you can make me clean.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 41Jesus was indignant.#1:41 Many manuscripts Jesus was filled with compassion He reached out his hand and touched the man. &#8220;I am willing,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Be clean!&#8221; 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.</div><div class="p"> 43Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44&#8220;See that you don&#8217;t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.&#8221; 45Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMRK">
 <div class="chapter ch2" data-usfm="MRK.2">
 <div class="label">2</div><div class="s1">Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man</div><div class="p"> 1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, &#8220;Son, your sins are forgiven.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7&#8220;Why does this fellow talk like that? He&#8217;s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, &#8220;Why are you thinking these things? 9Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, &#8216;Your sins are forgiven,&#8217; or to say, &#8216;Get up, take your mat and walk&#8217;? 10But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.&#8221; So he said to the man, 11&#8220;I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.&#8221; 12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, &#8220;We have never seen anything like this!&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners</div><div class="p"> 13Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector&#8217;s booth. &#8220;Follow me,&#8221; Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.</div><div class="p"> 15While Jesus was having dinner at Levi&#8217;s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: &#8220;Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, &#8220;It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Questioned About Fasting</div><div class="p"> 18Now John&#8217;s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, &#8220;How is it that John&#8217;s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 19Jesus answered, &#8220;How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.</div><div class="p"> 21 &#8220;No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath</div><div class="p"> 23One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, &#8220;Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 25He answered, &#8220;Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 27Then he said to them, &#8220;The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkMRK">
 <div class="chapter ch3" data-usfm="MRK.3">
 <div class="label">3</div><div class="s1">Jesus Heals on the Sabbath</div><div class="p"> 1Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, &#8220;Stand up in front of everyone.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 4Then Jesus asked them, &#8220;Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?&#8221; But they remained silent.</div><div class="p"> 5He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, &#8220;Stretch out your hand.&#8221; He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.</div><div class="s1">Crowds Follow Jesus</div><div class="p"> 7Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. 8When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. 9Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. 10For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. 11Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, &#8220;You are the Son of God.&#8221; 12But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Appoints the Twelve</div><div class="p"> 13Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14He appointed twelve#3:14 Some manuscripts twelve&#8212;designating them apostles&#8212; that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons. 16These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means &#8220;sons of thunder&#8221;), 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Accused by His Family and by Teachers of the Law</div><div class="p"> 20Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21When his family#3:21 Or his associates heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, &#8220;He is out of his mind.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 22And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, &#8220;He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 23So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: &#8220;How can Satan drive out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27In fact, no one can enter a strong man&#8217;s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man&#8217;s house. 28Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 30He said this because they were saying, &#8220;He has an impure spirit.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 31Then Jesus&#8217; mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, &#8220;Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 33 &#8220;Who are my mother and my brothers?&#8221; he asked.</div><div class="p"> 34Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, &#8220;Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does God&#8217;s will is my brother and sister and mother.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
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 <div class="chapter ch4" data-usfm="MRK.4">
 <div class="label">4</div><div class="s1">The Parable of the Sower</div><div class="p"> 1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water&#8217;s edge. 2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3&#8220;Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 9Then Jesus said, &#8220;Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 10When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11He told them, &#8220;The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12so that,</div><div class="q1"> &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,</div><div class="q2"> and ever hearing but never understanding;</div><div class="q1"> otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!&#8217; # 4:12 
 Isaiah 6:9,10 &#8221;</div><div class="p"> 13Then Jesus said to them, &#8220;Don&#8217;t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14The farmer sows the word. 15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop&#8212;some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">A Lamp on a Stand</div><div class="p"> 21He said to them, &#8220;Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don&#8217;t you put it on its stand? 22For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 24 &#8220;Consider carefully what you hear,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;With the measure you use, it will be measured to you&#8212;and even more. 25Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Parable of the Growing Seed</div><div class="p"> 26He also said, &#8220;This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28All by itself the soil produces grain&#8212;first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Parable of the Mustard Seed</div><div class="p"> 30Again he said, &#8220;What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 33With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Calms the Storm</div><div class="p"> 35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, &#8220;Let us go over to the other side.&#8221; 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, &#8220;Teacher, don&#8217;t you care if we drown?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, &#8220;Quiet! Be still!&#8221; Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.</div><div class="p"> 40He said to his disciples, &#8220;Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 41They were terrified and asked each other, &#8220;Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
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 <div class="label">5</div><div class="s1">Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man</div><div class="p"> 1They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.#5:1 Some manuscripts Gadarenes; other manuscripts Gergesenes 2When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.</div><div class="p"> 6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7He shouted at the top of his voice, &#8220;What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God&#8217;s name don&#8217;t torture me!&#8221; 8For Jesus had said to him, &#8220;Come out of this man, you impure spirit!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 9Then Jesus asked him, &#8220;What is your name?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;My name is Legion,&#8221; he replied, &#8220;for we are many.&#8221; 10And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.</div><div class="p"> 11A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12The demons begged Jesus, &#8220;Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.&#8221; 13He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.</div><div class="p"> 14Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man&#8212;and told about the pigs as well. 17Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.</div><div class="p"> 18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19Jesus did not let him, but said, &#8220;Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.&#8221; 20So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis#5:20 That is, the Ten Cities how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman</div><div class="p"> 21When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23He pleaded earnestly with him, &#8220;My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.&#8221; 24So Jesus went with him.</div><div class="p">A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, &#8220;If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.&#8221; 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.</div><div class="p"> 30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, &#8220;Who touched my clothes?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 31&#8220;You see the people crowding against you,&#8221; his disciples answered, &#8220;and yet you can ask, &#8216;Who touched me?&#8217; &#8221;</div><div class="p"> 32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, &#8220;Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 35While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. &#8220;Your daughter is dead,&#8221; they said. &#8220;Why bother the teacher anymore?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 36Overhearing#5:36 Or Ignoring what they said, Jesus told him, &#8220;Don&#8217;t be afraid; just believe.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 37He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39He went in and said to them, &#8220;Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.&#8221; 40But they laughed at him.</div><div class="p">After he put them all out, he took the child&#8217;s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand and said to her, &#8220;Talitha koum!&#8221; (which means &#8220;Little girl, I say to you, get up!&#8221;). 42Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.</div>
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