And as he scattered the grain some of it fell by the path

ある種は道端に落ちて

and was trodden on,

人に踏まれ

And the birds of the air devoured it.

鳥に食べられてしまった

And some fell on rocky ground,

別の種は岩地におちた

and when the plants sprouted,

芽は出たが 水気がなく枯れてしまった

they withered away because they had no moisture.

また別の種は イバラの中に落ちた

And some seeds fell among thorns.

イバラも一緒に育ったので ふさがれてしまった

And the thorns grew up with the plants, and choked them.

ある種は良い地に落ちて

And some seeds fell in good soil,

よく育ち 百倍の実を結んだ

And the plants grew and bore grain, 100 grains each.

先生、なぜ群衆の前では たとえを？

Master, why do You speak in parables whenever a crowd is near?

お前たちは神の国の奥義を 知ることが許されているが

The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God have been given to you.

他の者はそうではない

But to others it comes by means of parables...

彼らは見ていても見えず

So they may look but not see...

聞いていても悟らないからだ

And listen but not understand.

たとえ話の意味はこうだ

This is what the parable means.

種は神のことばだ

The seed is the word of God.

道端に落ちるとは こういう人たちのことだ

The seeds that fell along the path stand for those who hear.

聞くことは聞くが 悪魔が来て――

But the devil comes and takes the message away from their hearts

みことばを 持ち去ってしまう

in order to keep them from believing and being saved.

岩地に落ちるとは こういう人たちのことだ――

The seeds that fell on rocky ground

その時は喜ぶが

stand for those who hear the message and receive it gladly.

根がないので

But they have no roots.

しばらく続くだけで

They believe only for a while.

試練が来るとすぐグラつく

And when the time of testing comes, they fall away.

イバラの中に落ちるとは こういう人たちのことだ

The seeds that fell among the thorns stand for those who hear,

みことばを聞いても

but the worries and riches and pleasures of this life

富や快楽によってふさがれ

crowd in and choke them.

決して実を結ばない

And their fruit never ripens.

しかし良い地に落ちるとは

And the seeds that fell in good soil,

みことばを聞くと それを守り、よく耐えて

Stand for those who hear the message

豊かな実を結ばせる人だ

and retain it in a good and obedient heart.

And they persist until they bear fruit.