⁴And a great multitude having gathered, and those who from city and city were coming unto him, he spake by a simile: ⁵‘The sower went forth to sow his seed, and in his sowing some indeed fell beside the way, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the heaven did devour it.

⁶‘And other fell upon the rock, and having sprung up, it did wither, through not having moisture.

⁷‘And other fell amidst the thorns, and the thorns having sprung up with it, did choke it.

⁸‘And other fell upon the good ground, and having sprung up, it made fruit an hundred fold.’ These things saying, he was calling, ‘He having ears to hear—let him hear.’ ⁹And his disciples were questioning him, saying, ‘What may this simile be?’ ¹⁰And he said, ‘To you it hath been given to know the secrets of the reign of God, and to the rest in similes; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

¹¹‘And this is the simile: The seed is the word of God, ¹²and those beside the way are those hearing, then cometh the Devil, and taketh up the word from their heart, lest having believed, they may be saved.

¹³‘And those upon the rock: They who, when they may hear, with joy do receive the word, and these have no root, who for a time believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

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