For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. ¹  So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.

Let them disappear ¹  like water that flows away! ²  Let them wither like grass! ³ 

The earth ¹  dries up ²  and withers, the world shrivels up and withers; the prominent people of the earth ³  fade away.

I will make the trees on the mountains and hills wither up; ¹  I will dry up all their vegetation. I will turn streams into islands, ²  and dry up pools of water. ³ 

Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

Before his time ¹  he will be paid in full, ²  and his branches will not flourish. ³ 

Yes, ¹  we are consumed by your anger; we are terrified by your wrath.

The grass dries up, the flowers wither, but the decree of our God is forever reliable.” ¹ 

Amos ¹  said: “The Lord comes roaring ²  out of Zion; from Jerusalem ³  he comes bellowing! ⁴  The shepherds’ pastures wilt; ⁵  the summit of Carmel ⁶  withers.” ⁷ 

Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! May a sword fall on his arm and his right eye! May his arm wither completely away, and his right eye become completely blind!”

He grows up ¹  like a flower and then withers away; ²  he flees like a shadow, and does not remain. ³ 

Like a vine he will let his sour grapes fall, ¹  and like an olive tree he will shed his blossoms. ² 

They will not be ashamed when hard times come; ¹  when famine comes they will have enough to eat. ² 

The one who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous ¹  will flourish like a green leaf. ² 

The grass dries up, the flowers wither, when the wind sent by the Lord ¹  blows on them. Surely humanity ²  is like grass.

For the fields of Heshbon are dried up, as well as the vines of Sibmah. The rulers of the nations trample all over its vines, which reach Jazer and spread to the desert; their shoots spread out and cross the sea.

All the trees of the field will know that I am the Lord. I make the high tree low; I raise up the low tree. I make the green tree wither, and I make the dry tree sprout. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it!’”

They are exalted for a little while, and then they are gone, ¹  they are brought low ²  like all others, and gathered in, ³  and like a head of grain they are cut off.’ ⁴ 

“I, I am the one who consoles you. ¹  Why are you afraid of mortal men, of mere human beings who are as short-lived as grass? ² 

They sow the wind, and so they will reap the whirlwind! The stalk does not have any standing grain; it will not produce any flour. Even if it were to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it all up.