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Job 8
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:
14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.
(8,6,8,6)
The rush may rise where waters flow,
and flags beside the stream;
But soon their verdure fades and dies
before the scorching beam
So is the sinner’s hope cut off;
or, if it transient rise,
’Tis like the spider’s airy web,
from every breath that flies.
Fixed on his house he leans; his house
and all its props decay:
He holds it fast; but, while he holds,
the tott’ring frame gives way.
Fair in his garden, to the sun
his boughs with verdure smile;
And, deeply fixed, his spreading roots
unshaken stand a while.
But forth the sentence flies from Heav’n,
that sweeps him from his place;
Which then denies him for its lord,
nor owns it knew his face.
Lo! this the joy of wicked men,
who Heav’n’s high laws despise:
They quickly fall; and in their room
as quickly others rise.
But, for the just, with gracious care,
God will his power employ;
He’ll teach their lips to sing his praise,
and fill their hearts with joy.
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