^{1 Ref} And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land.

^{2 Ref} And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in his teaching,

^{3 Ref} Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow:

^{4 Ref} and it came to pass, as he sowed, some `seed' fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured it.

^{5 Ref} And other fell on the rocky `ground', where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth:

^{6 Ref} and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

^{7 Ref} And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

^{8 Ref} And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.

^{9 Ref} And he said, Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

^{10 Ref} And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables.

^{11 Ref} And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables:

^{12 Ref} that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them.

^{13 Ref} And he saith unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how shall ye know all the parables?

^{14 Ref} The sower soweth the word.

^{15 Ref} And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, straightway cometh Satan, and taketh away the word which hath been sown in them.

^{16 Ref} And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky `places', who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy;

^{17 Ref} and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble.

^{18 Ref} And others are they that are sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word,

^{19 Ref} and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

^{20 Ref} And those are they that were sown upon the good ground; such as hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.

^{21 Ref} And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed, `and' not to be put on the stand?

^{22 Ref} For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was `anything' made secret, but that it should come to light.

^{23 Ref} If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear.

^{24 Ref} And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you; and more shall be given unto you.

^{25 Ref} For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.