3
"Listen! A sower went out to sow.
4
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5
Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil.
6
And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away.
7
Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.
8
Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold."
9
And he said, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"
10
When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables.
11
And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables;
12
in order that "they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.' "
13
And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables?