A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed,
Some fell on rocky places where it did not have much soil.
It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched and they withered because they had no root.
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
Other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop-a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
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Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But sine he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.