Behold, a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed,
some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls
came and devoured them up: some fell upon stony places,
where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up,
because they had no deepness of earth:
and when the sun was up, they were scorched;
and because they had no root, they withered away.
And some fell among thorns; and the thorns
sprung up, and choked them: but other fell into good ground,
and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold,
some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to
hear, let him hear.
Why speakest thou unto them in parables? Because it is given
unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom
of heaven, but to them it is not given.
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given,
and he shall have more abundance:
but whosoever hath not, from him shall
be taken away even that he hath. Therefore I speak
to them in parables: because they seeing see not;
and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy
of Esaias, which saith, By hearing
ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye
shall see, and shall not perceive:
for this people's heart is waxed gross,
and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they
have closed; lest at any time they
should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears,
and should understand with their hearts, and should be converted,
and I should heal them.
Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men
have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not
seen them; and to hear those things which
ye hear, and have not heard them.
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom,
and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one,
and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.
This is he which received seed by the way side.
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same
is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy
receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself,
but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution
ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
He also that received seed among the thorns
is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world,
and the deceifulness of riches, choke the word,
and he becometh unfruitful. But
he that receives seed into the good ground is he that heareth the
word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit,
and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold,
some sixty, some thirty.