4:1
And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
4:2
And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
4:3
Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
4:4
And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
4:5
And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
4:6
But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
4:7
And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
4:8
And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
4:9
And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
4:10
And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
4:11
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
4:12
That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
4:13
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
4:14
The sower soweth the word.
4:15
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
4:16
And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
4:17
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
4:18
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
4:19
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
4:20
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.