King James Bible
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
Paul warns against self-deception about escaping divine justice, emphasizing that God's moral order cannot be treated with contempt or circumvented. The Greek term for 'mocked' means to turn up one's nose, suggesting that those who think they can sin without consequences are treating God with disdain. Using an agricultural metaphor familiar to his audience, Paul introduces the universal principle of moral cause and effect. The present tense 'soweth' indicates ongoing actions and choices that shape one's spiritual destiny. The harvest corresponds precisely to what was planted, establishing that actions have inevitable consequences aligned with their nature. This future certainty serves both as a warning against sin and an encouragement to righteousness, as the context discusses sowing to either flesh or Spirit.