4 Later, as Jesus was again by the seaside, there gathered a great multitude. He entered into a boat and began to address the large crowd on shore. He taught them many things by parables. Jesus began, Hearken. Behold, there went out a sower of seeds. It came to pass, as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside. The fowls of the air came and devoured it. Some seed fell on stony ground where there was no good soil. It sprang up quickly. But, because it had no roots, it was scorched by the sunlight and withered away. Some seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. Other seed fell on good ground. This did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundredfold. And Jesus finished by saying, He that has ears to hear, let him hear. After this, when the twelve were alone with Jesus, they asked Him about the parable and why He told the people a parable. Jesus said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But, to those who are without, the teachings are in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And Jesus said to them, Know ye not this parable? The sower sows the word. And these are the people by the wayside, where the word is sown. When they have heard, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are likewise those who are sown on stony ground. When they have heard the word, they receive it with gladness. But they have no root and endure only for a while. When affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, they are offended. And these are also the seed sown among the thorns of the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things. All these thorns enter in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And, finally, are those who are sown on good ground. In hearing the word, they receive it and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundredfold. Then Jesus said, Is a candle lighted to be put under a bushel, or under a bed instead of set on a candlestick? You see, if there is nothing hidden which shall not be manifested, then there is nothing kept secret, which shall not be uncovered. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear. And He said to them, Take heed what ye hear. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you. And to you that hear, more shall be given. For he that has, to him shall be given. He that has not, from him shall be taken away even that which he has.