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14 “To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend;
    even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook,
    as the channel of brooks that pass away;
16 Which are black by reason of the ice,
    in which the snow hides itself.
17 In the dry season, they vanish.
    When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The caravans that travel beside them turn away.
    They go up into the waste, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked.
    The companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were distressed because they were confident.
    They came there, and were confounded.
21 For now you are nothing.
    You see a terror, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, ‘Give to me?’
    or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance?’
23 or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand?’
    or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?’

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14 “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend(A)
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.(B)
15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,(C)
    as the streams that overflow
16 when darkened by thawing ice
    and swollen with melting snow,(D)
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season,
    and in the heat(E) vanish from their channels.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes;
    they go off into the wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema(F) look for water,
    the traveling merchants of Sheba(G) look in hope.
20 They are distressed, because they had been confident;
    they arrive there, only to be disappointed.(H)
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help;
    you see something dreadful and are afraid.(I)
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,
    pay a ransom(J) for me from your wealth,(K)
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
    rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?(L)

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