New King James Version NKJV
New International Version NIV
18 "Therefore hear the parable of the sower:
18
“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
19
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 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
20
The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
21
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 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
22
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 he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
23
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 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;
24
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.
25
But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.
26
When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'
27
“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?’
28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'
28
“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.