¹⁵ But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,^(A)
    as the streams that overflow
¹⁶ when darkened by thawing ice
    and swollen with melting snow,^(B)
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season,
    and in the heat^(C) vanish from their channels.
¹⁸ Caravans turn aside from their routes;
    they go off into the wasteland and perish.
¹⁹ The caravans of Tema^(D) look for water,
    the traveling merchants of Sheba^(E) look in hope.
²⁰ They are distressed, because they had been confident;
    they arrive there, only to be disappointed.^(F)

¹⁸ Why is my pain unending
    and my wound grievous and incurable?^(A)
You are to me like a deceptive brook,
    like a spring that fails.^(B)