Shall reap ... shall not profit—Rather, have reaped ... have profited nothing. The force of the proverb is that all their …

But shall reap thorns. — It is better translated as have reaped thorns; and similarly, in the next clause, they have …

Most interpreters understand this to refer to the prophets, who had been disappointed after faithfully cultivating God's field and sowing good seed…

They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns

God's people had been the dearly beloved of His soul, precious in His sight, but they acted in such a way that He gave them up to their enemies. Ma…

Here, he threatens the punishment of sterility.