The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
The paths of their way are turned aside. Caravans (Hebrew, travelers) turn aside from their way (Umbreit). But Maurer supports the English version, the paths of their (the travelers) 'way turn aside' - i:e., travelers turn aside from their way х 'aarªchowt (H734) darkaam (H1870)] 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 up' it is 'into a desert' (Noyes and Umbreit). Not as the 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' х tohuw (H8414), emptiness; a desert]; and not having strength to regain their road, bitterly disappointed, they perish. The terse brevity is most expressive.