²⁴

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;

²⁵

but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

²⁶

But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

²⁷

So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'

²⁸

He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'

²⁹

But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

³⁰

Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "