A farmer went out to sow his seed. As
he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came
and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much
soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when
the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they
had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked
the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced
a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
New International Version
Just
as a good farmer prepares the soil in order to produce a good harvest,
prudent parents will discipline their children so their instruction will
be effective.