4 When your children sinned against him,

he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.

5 But if you will seek God earnestly

and plead with the Almighty,

6 if you are pure and upright,

even now he will rouse himself on your behalf

and restore you to your prosperous state.

7 Your beginnings will seem humble,

so prosperous will your future be.

8 “Ask the former generation

and find out what their ancestors learned,

4 If thy children have sinned against him,

And he have cast them away for their transgression;

5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes,

And make thy supplication to the Almighty;

6 If thou wert pure and upright;

Surely now he would awake for thee,

And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

7 Though thy beginning was small,

Yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age,

And prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

4 Your children must have sinned against him,

so their punishment was well deserved.

5 But if you pray to God

and seek the favor of the Almighty,

6 and if you are pure and live with integrity,

he will surely rise up and restore your happy home.

7 And though you started with little,

you will end with much.

8 “Just ask the previous generation.

Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors.

4 If your sons have sinned against Him,

He has cast them away for their transgression.

5 If you would earnestly seek God

And make your supplication to the Almighty,

6 If you were pure and upright,

Surely now He would awake for you,

And prosper your rightful dwelling place.

7 Though your beginning was small,

Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.

8 “For inquire, please, of the former age,

And consider the things discovered by their fathers;

4 Your children sinned against God,

and he punished them for their sins.

5 But you should ask God for help

and pray to the Almighty for mercy.

6 If you are good and honest,

he will stand up for you

and bring you back where you belong.

7 Where you began will seem unimportant,

because your future will be so successful.

8 “Ask old people;

find out what their ancestors learned,

4 If thy children have sinned against him,

And he hath delivered them into the hand of their transgression;

5 If thou wouldest seek diligently unto God,

And make thy supplication to the Almighty;

6 If thou wert pure and upright:

Surely now he would awake for thee,

And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

7 And though thy beginning was small,

Yet thy latter end would greatly increase.

8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age,

And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out

4 If thy children have sinned against him, he hath also given them over into the hand of their transgression. 5 If thou seek earnestly unto •God, and make thy supplication to the Almighty, 6 If thou be pure and upright, surely now he will awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous; 7 And though thy beginning was small, yet thine end shall be very great.

8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former generation, and attend to the researches of their fathers;

4 If your children sinned against him, 

he allowed them to suffer the consequences of their sinfulness. 

5 If you search for God 

and plead for mercy from the Almighty, 

6 if you are moral and ethical, 

then he will rise up on your behalf 

and prove your righteousness by rebuilding your home. 

7 Then what you had in the past will seem small 

compared with the great prosperity you’ll have in the future. 

8 “Ask the people of past generations. 

Find out what their ancestors had learned. 

4 Since your children sinned against Him,

He gave them over to their rebellion.

5 But if you earnestly seek God

and ask the Almighty for mercy,

6 if you are pure and upright,

then He will move even now on your behalf

and restore the home where your righteousness dwells.

7 Then, even if your beginnings were modest,

your final days will be full of prosperity.

8 For ask the previous generation,

and pay attention to what their fathers discovered,

4 If your children sinned against him,

he delivered them into the power of their transgression.

5 If you will seek God

and make supplication to the Almighty,

6 if you are pure and upright,

surely then he will rouse himself for you

and restore to you your rightful place.

7 Though your beginning was small,

your latter days will be very great.

8 “For inquire now of bygone generations,

and consider what their ancestors have found;

4 If your children sinned against him,

then he sent them into the power of their transgression.

5 If you yourself would seek God,

then you would plead to Shaddai for grace.

6 If you are pure and upright,

indeed, now he will rouse himself for you,

and he will restore your righteous abode.

7 Though your beginning was small,

your end will be very great.

8 “Indeed, please inquire of former generations,

and consider what their ancestors have found,

4 Your children sinned against him.

So he punished them for their sin.

5 But look to God.

Make your appeal to the Mighty One.

6 Be pure and honest.

And he will rise up and help you now.

He’ll return you to the place where you belong.

7 In the past, things went well with you.

But in days to come, things will get even better.

8 “Find out what your people who lived long ago taught.

Discover what those who lived before them learned.

4 “If your sons sinned against Him,

Then He delivered them into the power of their transgression.

5 “If you would seek God

And implore the compassion of the Almighty,

6 If you are pure and upright,

Surely now He would rouse Himself for you

And restore your righteous estate.

7 “Though your beginning was insignificant,

Yet your end will increase greatly.

8 “Please inquire of past generations,

And consider the things searched out by their fathers.