11 Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?

Can reeds thrive without water?

12 While still growing and uncut,

they wither more quickly than grass.

13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God;

so perishes the hope of the godless.

14 What they trust in is fragile;

what they rely on is a spider’s web.

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.

11 “Can papyrus reeds grow tall without a marsh?

Can marsh grass flourish without water?

12 While they are still flowering, not ready to be cut,

they begin to wither more quickly than grass.

13 The same happens to all who forget God.

The hopes of the godless evaporate.

14 Their confidence hangs by a thread.

They are leaning on a spider’s web.

11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?

Can the reeds flourish without water?

12 While it is yet green and not cut down,

It withers before any other plant.

13 So are the paths of all who forget God;

And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish,

14 Whose confidence shall be cut off,

And whose trust is a spider’s web.

11 Papyrus plants cannot grow where there is no swamp,

and reeds cannot grow tall without water.

12 While they are still growing and not yet cut,

they will dry up quicker than grass.

13 That is what will happen to those who forget God;

the hope of the wicked will be gone.

14 What they hope in is easily broken;

what they trust is like a spider’s web.

11 Can the rush grow up without mire?

Can the flag grow without water?

12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down,

It withereth before any other herb.

13 So are the paths of all that forget God;

And the hope of the godless man shall perish:

14 Whose confidence shall break in sunder,

And whose trust is a spider’s web.

11 Doth the papyrus shoot up without mire? doth the reed-grass grow without water? 12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness and not cut down, it withereth before any other grass. 13 So are the paths of all that forget •God; and the profane man’s hope shall perish, 14 Whose confidence shall be cut off, and his reliance is a spider’s web.

11 “Can papyrus grow up where there is no swamp? 

Can rushes grow tall without water? 

12 Even if they were fresh and not cut, 

they would wither quicker than grass. 

13 The same thing happens to all who forget God. 

The hope of the godless dies. 

14 His confidence is easily shattered. 

His trust is a spider’s web. 

11 Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh?

Do reeds flourish without water?

12 While still uncut shoots,

they would dry up quicker than any other plant.

13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God;

the hope of the godless will perish.

14 His source of confidence is fragile;

what he trusts in is a spider’s web.

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 wither before any other plant.

13 Such are the paths of all who forget God;

the hope of the godless shall perish.

14 Their confidence is gossamer,

a spider’s house their trust.

11 Can papyrus grow tall where there is not a marsh?

Will reeds flourish without water?

12 While it is in its flower and is not plucked,

yet it withers before all grass.

13 So are the paths of all who forget God;

and the hope of the godless will perish,

14 whose confidence is cut off

and whose trust is a spider’s house.

11 Can grass grow tall where there isn’t any swamp?

Can plants grow well where there isn’t any water?

12 While they are still growing and haven’t been cut,

they dry up faster than grass does.

13 The same thing happens to everyone who forgets God.

The hope of ungodly people dies out.

14 What they trust in is very weak.

What they depend on is like a spider’s web.

11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?

Can the rushes grow without water?

12 “While it is still green and not cut down,

Yet it withers before any other plant.

13 “So are the paths of all who forget God;

And the hope of the godless will perish,

14 Whose confidence is fragile,

And whose trust a spider’s web.