But some man will say: How do the dead rise again? or with what manner of body shall they come?36 Senseless man, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die first.37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be; but bare grain, as of wheat, or of some of the rest.42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it shall rise in incorruption.43 It is sown in dishonour, it shall rise in glory. It is sown in weakness, it shall rise in power.44 It is sown a natural body, it shall rise a spiritual body. If there be a natural body, there is also a spiritual body, as it is written:†45 The first man Adam was made into a living soul; the last Adam into a quickening spirit.46 Yet that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; afterwards that which is spiritual.47 The first man was of the earth, earthly: the second man, from heaven, heavenly.†48 Such as is the earthly, such also are the earthly: and such as is the heavenly, such also are they that are heavenly.49 Therefore as we have borne the image of the earthly, let us bear also the image of the heavenly.
God is a Spirit, not pervading matter, but the Maker of material spirits, and of the forms that are in matter; He is invisible, impalpable, being Himself the Father of both sensible and invisible things. Him we know from His creation, and apprehend His invisible power by His works. I refuse to adore that workmanship which He has made for our sakes. The sun and moon were made for us: how, then, can I adore my own servants? How can I speak of stocks and stones as gods? For the Spirit that pervades matter is inferior to the more divine spirit; and this, even when assimilated to the soul, is not to be honoured equally with the perfect God.
The psalm's verse numbering differs between the modern lectionary and the Douay-Rheims this library hosts, so the text isn't matched verse-for-verse here yet.
And when a very great multitude was gathered together, and hastened out of the cities unto him, he spoke by a similitude.5 The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.6 And other some fell upon a rock: and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.†7 And other some fell among thorns, and the thorns growing up with it, choked it.8 And other some fell upon good ground; and being sprung up, yielded fruit a hundredfold. Saying these things, he cried out: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.9 And his disciples asked him what this parable might be.10 To whom he said: To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing may not understand.11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.12 And they by the way side are they that hear; then the devil cometh, and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved.13 Now they upon the rock, are they who when they hear, receive the word with joy: and these have no roots; for they believe for a while, and in time of temptation, they fall away.14 And that which fell among thorns, are they who have heard, and going their way, are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and yield no fruit.15 But that on the good ground, are they who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit in patience.
And therefore it is significantly said, When much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city. For not many but few there are who walk the strait road, and find the way which leadeth to life. Hence Matthew says, that He taught without the house by parables, but within the house explained the parable to His disciples. (Matt. 13:36.)
(in Prov. 1.) Now a parable is a narration of an action as done, yet not done according to the letter, though it might have been, representing certain things by means of others which are given in the parable. An enigma is a continued story of things which are spoken of as done, and yet have not been done, nor are possible to be done, but contains a concealed meaning, as that which is mentioned in the Book of Judges, that the trees went forth to anoint a king over them. (Judges 9:8.) But it was not literally a fact as is said, A sower went out to sow, like those facts related in history, yet it might have been so.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)