New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
19 What is the seed that fell by the road? That seed is like the person who hears the message about the kingdom but does not understand it. The Evil One comes and takes away what was planted in that person's heart.
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 And what is the seed that fell on rocky ground? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching and quickly accepts 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 But he does not let the teaching go deep into his life, so he keeps it only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching he accepted, he quickly gives up.
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 And what is the seed that fell among the thorny weeds? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching but lets worries about this life and the temptation of wealth stop that teaching from growing. So the teaching does not produce fruitn in that person's life.
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 what is the seed that fell on the good ground? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching and understands it. That person grows and produces fruit, sometimes a hundred times more, sometimes sixty times more, and sometimes thirty times more."
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 Then Jesus told them another story: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted 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 That night, when everyone was asleep, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat and then left.
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But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
26 Later, the wheat sprouted and the heads of grain grew, but the weeds also grew.
26
When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 Then the man's servants came to him and said, 'You planted 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?’
28 The man answered, 'An enemy planted weeds.' The servants asked, 'Do you want us to pull up the weeds?'
28
“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 The man answered, 'No, because when you pull up the weeds, you might also pull up the wheat.
29
“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 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.