Matthew 13, side by side

Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.

Modern

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.

Classic

1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

Modern

2Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore.

Classic

2And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Modern

3And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.

Classic

3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

Modern

4And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.

Classic

4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Modern

5Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.

Classic

5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

Modern

6But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

Classic

6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

Modern

7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.

Classic

7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

Modern

8Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.

Classic

8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Modern

9He who has ears, let him hear.”

Classic

9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Modern

10Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”

Classic

10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

Modern

11He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

Classic

11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Modern

12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

Classic

12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Modern

13This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’

Classic

13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Modern

14In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

Classic

14And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Modern

15For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Classic

15For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Modern

16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

Classic

16But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Modern

17For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Classic

17For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Modern

18Consider, then, the parable of the sower:

Classic

18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

Modern

19When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

Classic

19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Modern

20The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.

Classic

20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Modern

21But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

Classic

21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Modern

22The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Classic

22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Modern

23But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.”

Classic

23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Modern

24Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.

Classic

24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

Modern

25But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away.

Classic

25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

Modern

26When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.

Classic

26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

Modern

27The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

Classic

27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

Modern

28‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

Classic

28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

Modern

29‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them.

Classic

29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

Modern

30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.’”

Classic

30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Modern

31He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.

Classic

31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

Modern

32Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Classic

32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Modern

33He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”

Classic

33Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Modern

34Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable.

Classic

34All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

Modern

35So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

Classic

35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Modern

36Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

Classic

36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

Modern

37He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

Classic

37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

Modern

38The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

Classic

38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

Modern

39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

Classic

39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Modern

40As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

Classic

40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

Modern

41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness.

Classic

41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

Modern

42And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Classic

42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Modern

43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Classic

43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Modern

44The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Classic

44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Modern

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.

Classic

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Modern

46When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.

Classic

46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Modern

47Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish.

Classic

47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

Modern

48When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away.

Classic

48Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

Modern

49So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous,

Classic

49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

Modern

50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Classic

50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Modern

51Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered.

Classic

51Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

Modern

52Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

Classic

52Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Modern

53When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place.

Classic

53And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

Modern

54Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.

Classic

54And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

Modern

55“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?

Classic

55Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

Modern

56Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?”

Classic

56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

Modern

57And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

Classic

57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

Modern

58And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

Classic

58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

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