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Jeremiah 12:13

11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.

12 The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.

They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

14 Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.

15 And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.

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This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
They have sown wheat but harvested thorns. They have exhausted themselves to no avail. Bear the shame of your harvest because of the fierce anger of the LORD.”
KJV
They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
WEB
They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns. They have exhausted themselves, and profit nothing. You will be ashamed of your fruits, because of the LORD’s fierce anger.”
ASV
They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: and ye shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the fierce anger of Jehovah.
DARBY
They have sown wheat, and they reap thorns; they have put themselves to pain, [and] do not profit. Be ye therefore ashamed of your revenues, because of the fierce anger of Jehovah.
BLB
They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have wearied themselves; they did not profit. And they have been ashamed of your⁺ produce, because of the burning nose of YHWH.”
ÅB
De sår hvete, men høster torner; de tretter seg ut, men har intet gagn av det. Så ha da skam av deres grøde for Herrens brennende vredes skyld!
OTB
De har sådd hvete, men har høstet torner; de har slitt seg ut, men oppnådd ingenting. Skam dere over deres høst på grunn av Herrens voldsomme vrede.”
B1930
De sår hvete, men høster torner; de tretter sig ut, men har intet gagn av det. Så ha da skam av eders grøde for Herrens brennende vredes skyld!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Haggai 1:6

    Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

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  • Deuteronomy 28:38

    Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.

    Read in context

  • Leviticus 26:16

    I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

    Read in context

  • Micah 6:15

    Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 55:2

    Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 25:37–38

    And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 4:26

    I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.

    Read in context

  • Habakkuk 2:13

    Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?

    Read in context