8 “Ask the former generation

and find out what their ancestors learned,

9 for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,

and our days on earth are but a shadow.

10 Will they not instruct you and tell you?

Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?

8 “For inquire, please, of bygone ages,

and consider what the fathers have searched out.

9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing,

for our days on earth are a shadow.

10 Will they not teach you and tell you

and utter words out of their understanding?

8 “Just ask the previous generation.

Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors.

9 For we were born but yesterday and know nothing.

Our days on earth are as fleeting as a shadow.

10 But those who came before us will teach you.

They will teach you the wisdom of old.

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

And consider the things discovered by their fathers;

9 For we were born yesterday, and know nothing,

Because our days on earth are a shadow.

10 Will they not teach you and tell you,

And utter words from their heart?

8 “Ask old people;

find out what their ancestors learned,

9 because we were only born yesterday and know nothing.

Our days on earth are only a shadow.

10 Those people will teach you and tell you

and speak about what they know.

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

And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out

9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing,

Because our days upon earth are a shadow);

10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee,

And utter words out of their heart?

8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former generation, and attend to the researches of their fathers; 9 For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, for our days upon earth are a shadow. 10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

8 “Ask the people of past generations. 

Find out what their ancestors had learned. 

9 We have only been around since yesterday, and we know nothing. 

Our days on earth are only a fleeting shadow. 

10 Won’t their words teach you? 

Won’t they share their thoughts with you? 

8 For ask the previous generation,

and pay attention to what their fathers discovered,

9 since we were born only yesterday and know nothing.

Our days on earth are but a shadow.

10 Will they not teach you and tell you

and speak from their understanding?

8 “For inquire now of bygone generations,

and consider what their ancestors have found;

9 for we are but of yesterday, and we know nothing,

for our days on earth are but a shadow.

10 Will they not teach you and tell you

and utter words out of their understanding?

8 “Indeed, please inquire of former generations,

and consider what their ancestors have found,

9 for we are of yesterday, and we do not know,

for our days on earth are a shadow.

10 Will they themselves not teach you and tell you

and utter words from their heart?

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

Discover what those who lived before them learned.

9 After all, we were born only yesterday.

So we don’t know anything.

Our days on this earth are like a shadow that disappears.

10 Won’t your people of long ago teach you and tell you?

Won’t the things they said help you understand?

8 “Please inquire of past generations,

And consider the things searched out by their fathers.

9 “For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,

Because our days on earth are as a shadow.

10 “Will they not teach you and tell you,

And bring forth words from their minds?