While yet in flower translates “while it is in its greenness” and refers most likely to the early or blossoming stage of the plant, a plant that is not yet ripe or mature for use. They wither before any other plant: this line is the main clause, and in some languages it must come before the line above. It is implied that these plants will wither more quickly than any other plant “if the water dries up,” as Good News Translation makes clear.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .