4 Then, when a very numerous crowd was gathering together and hurrying from the cities to him, he spoke using a comparison:
5 "The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell beside the way; and it was trampled and the birds of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon rock; and having sprung up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns, rising up with it, suffocated it.
8 And some fell upon good soil; and having sprung up, it produced fruit one hundredfold." As he said these things, he cried out, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."
9 Then his disciples questioned him as to what this parable might mean.
10 And he said to them: "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to the rest, it is in parables, so that: seeing, they may not perceive, and hearing, they may not understand.