ASV - Luke 8:1-18

8 Luke 8

¹And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve, ²and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, ³and Joanna the wife of Chuzas Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto them of their substance.

⁴And when a great multitude came together, and they of every city resorted unto him, he spake by a parable: ⁵The sower went forth to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it. ⁶And other fell on the rock; and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture. ⁷And other fell amidst the thorns; and the thorns grew with it, and choked it. ⁸And other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

⁹And his disciples asked him what this parable might be. ¹⁰And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. ¹¹Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹²And those by the way side are they that have heard; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³And those on the rock are they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. ¹⁴And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. ¹⁵And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience.

¹⁶And no man, when he hath lighted a lamp, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but putteth it on a stand, that they that enter in may see the light. ¹⁷For nothing is hid, that shall not be made manifest; nor anything secret, that shall not be known and come to light. ¹⁸Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he thinketh he hath.