4 [8:4]And a great multitude having come together, and persons having come to him from every city, he said in a parable, [8:5]A sower went out to sow his seed; and in his sowing, some fell by the way, and was trodden down, and the birds of heaven devoured it; [8:6]and some fell on the rock, and springing up it was dried up, because it had no moisture; [8:7]and some fell in the midst of thorns, and the thorns springing up choked it; [8:8]and some fell on good ground, and growing up bore fruit a hundred fold. Having said these things, he cried, He that has ears to hear, let him hear. 5 [8:9]And his disciples asked him, What does this parable mean? [8:10]And he said, It is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. [8:11]But the parable signifies this; the seed is the word of God; [8:12]those by the way are those who hear, then comes the devil and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved; [8:13]those on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, and they have no root; they believe for a time, and in a time of trial fall away; [8:14] and that which fell among thorns signifies those who hear, and going away are choked by cares and riches and the pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. [8:15]But that on the good ground signifies those who, with a noble and good heart, hearing the word retain it, and bear fruit persistently. 6 [8:16]But no one lights a candle and covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it in a candlestick, that those coming in may see the light. [8:17]For there is nothing hid which shall not be manifest, nor concealed which shall not be known and come to light. [8:18]See therefore how you hear; for whoever has, to him shall be given, and whoever has not, from him shall be taken away even what he seems to have. 7 [8:19]And his mother and brothers came to him, and were not able to approach him on account of the multitude. [8:20]And it was told him by some, saying, Your mother and your brothers stand without, wishing to see you. [8:21]And he answered and said to them, My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and perform it. CHAPTER XI. CHRIST STILLING A TEMPEST, CURING A DEMONIAC, RAISING THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS.