{They are choked} (sunpnigontai). Present passive
indicative of this powerfully vivid compound verb sunpnig(935c) used
in  Mr 4:19  Mt 13:22 , only there these worldly weeds choke the
word while here the victims themselves are choked. Both are true.
Diphtheria will choke and strangle the victim. Who has not seen
the promise of fair flower and fruit choked into yellow withered
stalk without fruit "as they go on their way" (poreuomenoi).
{Bring no fruit to perfection} (ou telesphorousin). Compound
verb common in the late writers (	elos, phore(935c)). To bring to
completion. Used of fruits, animals, pregnant women. Only here in
the N.T.