4
And when muchpeople were gathered together, and were cometohim out of everycity, he spakeby a parable:
5
A sower went out to sowhisseed:andashesowed, some*fellby the way side;and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the airdevouredit.
6
Andsomefellupon a rock;and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked*moisture.
7
Andsomefellamong*thorns;and the thorns sprang up with it, and chokedit.
8
Andotherfellongoodground,and sprang up, and barefruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hathears to hear, let him hear.
10
And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God:but to othersinparables;thatseeing they mightnotsee, andhearing they mightnotunderstand.
11
Now the parableisthis: The seedis the word of God.
12
Thoseby the way sideare they that hear; thencometh the devil,and taketh away the word out oftheirhearts,lest they should believe and be saved.
13
Theyon the rock are they, which,when they hear, receive the wordwithjoy;andthesehavenoroot,whichfor a whilebelieve, andintime of temptation fall away.
14
And that which fellamongthornsarethey, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are chokedwithcaresandrichesandpleasures of this life,andbringno fruit to perfection.
15
But that on the goodgroundarethey,whichin an honestandgoodheart, having heard the word,keep it, and bring forth fruitwithpatience.
16
Noman, when he hath lighted a candle,coverethit with a vessel,orputteth it under a bed;butsetteth it on a candlestick,that they which enter in may see the light.
17
Fornothingissecret,thatshallnot be mademanifest;neither any thing hid,thatshallnot be knownandcomeabroad*.
18
Take heedthereforehow ye hear: forwhosoever*hath, to him shall be given; andwhosoever*hathnot,fromhim shall be takeneven that which he seemeth[a] to have.
19
Thencametohim his motherandhisbrethren,andcouldnotcome at himfor the press.
20
And it was toldhim by certain which said, Thymotherandthybrethrenstandwithout,desiring to seethee.
21
And he answered and saiduntothem,Mymotherandmybrethrenarethesewhichhear the word of God,anddoit.