5 »The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed some fell by the side of the road. It was trampled under foot and the birds of heaven devoured it.

6 »Other seed fell on the rock. As soon as it grew it withered away because it had no moisture.

7 »Still other seed fell among the thorns. The thorns grew with it, and choked it.

8 »Other seed fell on the good ground. It grew and produced fruit a hundredfold.« As he said these things he cried. He said: »He who has ears to hear let him hear.«

9 His disciples asked him what this illustration means.

10 He said: »You are meant to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. I speak to the rest in illustrations, that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand.

11 »Now the illustration is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 »Those by the side of the road are they who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved.

13 »Those on the rock are those who receive the word with joy. These have no root. They believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

14 »The seeds that fell among the thorns are people who hear the word and go their own way. They are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and do not produce fruit.