Job 6:18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off into the wasteland and perish.

◄ Job 6:18 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off into the wasteland and perish.

English Standard Version
The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish.

New American Standard Bible
"The paths of their course wind along, They go up into nothing and perish.

King James Bible
The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Caravans turn away from their routes, go up into the desert, and perish.

International Standard Version
Travelers divert in their route; they go into a wasteland and die.

American Standard Version
The caravans that travel by the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The paths of their steps are entangled: they shall walk in vain, and shall perish.

Darby Bible Translation
They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.

Young's Literal Translation
Turn aside do the paths of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

6:14-30 In his prosperity Job formed great expectations from his friends, but now was disappointed. This he compares to the failing of brooks in summer. Those who rest their expectations on the creature, will find it fail when it should help them; whereas those who make God their confidence, have help in the time of need, Heb 4:16. Those who make gold their hope, sooner or later will be ashamed of it, and of their confidence in it. It is our wisdom to cease from man. Let us put all our confidence in the Rock of ages, not in broken reeds; in the Fountain of life, not in broken cisterns. The application is very close; for now ye are nothing. It were well for us, if we had always such convictions of the vanity of the creature, as we have had, or shall have, on a sick-bed, a death-bed, or in trouble of conscience. Job upbraids his friends with their hard usage. Though in want, he desired no more from them than a good look and a good word. It often happens that, even when we expect little from man, we have less; but from God, even when we expect much, we have more. Though Job differed from them, yet he was ready to yield as soon as it was made to appear that he was in error. Though Job had been in fault, yet they ought not to have given him such hard usage. His righteousness he holds fast, and will not let it go. He felt that there had not been such iniquity in him as they supposed. But it is best to commit our characters to Him who keeps our souls; in the great day every upright believer shall have praise of God.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

18. turned aside—rather, "caravans" (Hebrew, "travellers") turn aside from their way, by circuitous routes, to obtain water. They had seen the brook in spring full of water: and now in the summer heat, on their weary journey, they turn off their road by a devious route to reach the living waters, which they remembered with such pleasure. But, when "they go," it is "into a desert" [Noyes and Umbreit]. Not as English Version, "They go to nothing," which would be a tame repetition of the drying up of the waters in Job 6:17; instead of waters, they find an "empty wilderness"; and, not having strength to regain their road, bitterly disappointed, they "perish." The terse brevity is most expressive.