GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New International Version NIV
17 I can guarantee this truth: Many prophets and many of God's people longed to see what you see but didn't see it, to hear what you hear but didn't hear it.
17
For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 "Listen to what the story about the farmer means.
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“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19 Someone hears the word about the kingdom but doesn't understand it. The evil one comes at once and snatches away what was planted in him. This is what the seed planted along the road illustrates.
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When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20 The seed planted on rocky ground [is the person who] hears the word and accepts it at once with joy.
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The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 Since he doesn't have any root, he lasts only a little while. When suffering or persecution comes along because of the word, he immediately falls [from faith].
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But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
22 The seed planted among thornbushes [is another person who] hears the word. But the worries of life and the deceitful pleasures of riches choke the word so that it can't produce anything.
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The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
23 But the seed planted on good ground [is the person who] hears and understands the word. This type produces crops. They produce one hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much as was planted."
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But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
24 Jesus used another illustration. He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field.
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Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
25 But while people were asleep, his enemy planted weeds in the wheat field and went away.
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But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
26 When the wheat came up and formed kernels, weeds appeared.
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When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 "The owner's workers came to him and asked, 'Sir, didn't you plant good seed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?'
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“The 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?’
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.