THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable,w 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.”x As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”y