3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto him with their substance.
4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable, saying,
5 A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell by the way-side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 And others fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundred-fold.
9 And when he had said these things, he cried, He who hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God; but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11 Now the parable is this; The seed is the word of God.
12 That which fell by the wayside are they who hear; and the devil cometh and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 That which fell on the rock are they, who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and they have no root, but for a while believe, and in a time of temptation fall away.
