¹⁷ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

¹⁷ But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word.

¹⁷ But there is such shallow soil of character that when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.