¹⁶ These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; ¹⁷ and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. ¹⁸ Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, ¹⁹ and the ^(A)cares of this world, ^(B)the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²⁰ But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, ^[a]accept it, and bear ^(C)fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

The Parable of the Sower Explained^(A)

^18 (B)“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word ^(C)of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. ²⁰ But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately ^(D)receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when ^(E)tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately ^(F)he stumbles. ²² Now ^(G)he who received seed ^(H)among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. ²³ But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears ^(I)fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

¹³ But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of ^[a]temptation fall away. ¹⁴ Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, ^(A)riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. ¹⁵ But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with ^(B)patience.^[b]

³⁹ But we are not of those ^(A)who draw back to ^[a]perdition, but of those who ^(B)believe to the saving of the soul.