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for verily I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men did desire to see that which ye look on, and they did not see, and to hear that which ye hear, and they did not hear.
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`Ye, therefore, hear ye the simile of the sower:
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Every one hearing the word of the reign, and not understanding -- the evil one doth come, and doth catch that which hath been sown in his heart; this is that sown by the way.
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`And that sown on the rocky places, this is he who is hearing the word, and immediately with joy is receiving it,
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and he hath not root in himself, but is temporary, and persecution or tribulation having happened because of the word, immediately he is stumbled.
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`And that sown toward the thorns, this is he who is hearing the word, and the anxiety of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, do choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
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`And that sown on the good ground: this is he who is hearing the word, and is understanding, who indeed doth bear fruit, and doth make, some indeed a hundredfold, and some sixty, and some thirty.'
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Another simile he set before them, saying: `The reign of the heavens was likened to a man sowing good seed in his field,
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and, while men are sleeping, his enemy came and sowed darnel in the midst of the wheat, and went away,
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and when the herb sprang up, and yielded fruit, then appeared also the darnel.
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`And the servants of the householder, having come near, said to him, Sir, good seed didst thou not sow in thy field? whence then hath it the darnel?