8:9 Then ¹²  his disciples asked him what this parable meant. ¹³  8:10 He ¹⁴  said, “You have been given ¹⁵  the opportunity to know ¹⁶  the secrets ¹⁷  of the kingdom of God, ¹⁸  but for others they are in parables, so that although they see they may not see, and although they hear they may not understand. ¹⁹ 

8:11 “Now the parable means ²⁰  this: The seed is the word of God. 8:12 Those along the path are the ones who have heard; then the devil ²¹  comes and takes away the word ²²  from their hearts, so that they may not believe ²³  and be saved. 8:13 Those ²⁴  on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, ²⁵  but ²⁶  in a time of testing ²⁷  fall away. ²⁸  8:14 As for the seed that ²⁹  fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but ³⁰  as they go on their way they are choked ³¹  by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, ³²  and their fruit does not mature. ³³  8:15 But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing ³⁴  the word, cling to it ³⁵  with an honest and good ³⁶  heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance. ³⁷