11 “Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh?
    Can reeds flourish where there is no water?
12 While yet in flower and not cut down,
    they (A)wither before any other plant.
13 Such are the paths of all who (B)forget God;
    (C)the hope of (D)the godless shall perish.
14 His confidence is severed,
    and his trust is (E)a spider's web.[a]
15 He leans against his (F)house, but it does not stand;
    he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.
16 He is a lush plant before the sun,
    and his (G)shoots spread over his garden.
17 His roots entwine the stone heap;
    he looks upon a house of stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his (H)place,
    then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never (I)seen you.’
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way,
    and out of (J)the soil others will spring.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 8:14 Hebrew house

11 “Can papyrus grow where there’s no marsh?
    Can reeds flourish without water?
12 While they are still green
    and not yet ready to be harvested,
        they wither before any plant.
13 Such are the paths of everyone who forgets God—
    the hope of the godless will be destroyed:
14 his confidence is shattered;
    his trust is in a spider’s web.
15 He leans against his house,
    but it won’t stand;
he grabs hold of it firmly,
    but it doesn’t last.
16 He is a fresh sapling planted in the sunlight,
    spreading out its branches over its garden.
17 Its roots weave around a pile of stones,
    seeking to entrench itself among the rocks.
18 If he is uprooted[a] from his place,
    then it will deny him:
        ‘I never saw you.’

19 “Indeed, this is the benefit of God’s[b] way:
    from the soil other plants[c] will sprout.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 8:18 Lit. is swallowed up
  2. Job 8:19 Lit. his
  3. Job 8:19 The Heb. lacks plants