Job 8:8–14

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?

11 “Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh?

Can reeds flourish where there is no water?

12 While yet in flower and not cut down,

they wither before any other plant.

13 Such are the paths of all who forget God;

the hope of the godless shall perish.

14 His confidence is severed,

and his trust is a spider’s web.

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

And prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

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?

11 Can the rush grow up without mire?

Can the flag grow without water?

12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down,

It withereth before any other herb.

13 So are the paths of all that forget God;

And the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:

14 Whose hope shall be cut off,

And whose trust shall be a spider’s web.

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.

11 “Can papyrus reeds grow tall without a marsh?

Can marsh grass flourish without water?

12 While they are still flowering, not ready to be cut,

they begin to wither more quickly than grass.

13 The same happens to all who forget God.

The hopes of the godless evaporate.

14 Their confidence hangs by a thread.

They are leaning on a spider’s web.

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?

11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?

Can the reeds flourish without water?

12 While it is yet green and not cut down,

It withers before any other plant.

13 So are the paths of all who forget God;

And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish,

14 Whose confidence shall be cut off,

And whose trust is a spider’s web.

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.

11 Papyrus plants cannot grow where there is no swamp,

and reeds cannot grow tall without water.

12 While they are still growing and not yet cut,

they will dry up quicker than grass.

13 That is what will happen to those who forget God;

the hope of the wicked will be gone.

14 What they hope in is easily broken;

what they trust is like a spider’s web.

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?

11 Can the rush grow up without mire?

Can the flag grow without water?

12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down,

It withereth before any other herb.

13 So are the paths of all that forget God;

And the hope of the godless man shall perish:

14 Whose confidence shall break in sunder,

And whose trust is a spider’s web.

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? 11 Doth the papyrus shoot up without mire? doth the reed-grass grow without water? 12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness and not cut down, it withereth before any other grass. 13 So are the paths of all that forget •God; and the profane man’s hope shall perish, 14 Whose confidence shall be cut off, and his reliance is a spider’s web.

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? 

11 “Can papyrus grow up where there is no swamp? 

Can rushes grow tall without water? 

12 Even if they were fresh and not cut, 

they would wither quicker than grass. 

13 The same thing happens to all who forget God. 

The hope of the godless dies. 

14 His confidence is easily shattered. 

His trust is a spider’s web. 

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?

11 Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh?

Do reeds flourish without water?

12 While still uncut shoots,

they would dry up quicker than any other plant.

13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God;

the hope of the godless will perish.

14 His source of confidence is fragile;

what he trusts in is a spider’s web.

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?

11 “Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh?

Can reeds flourish where there is no water?

12 While yet in flower and not cut down,

they wither before any other plant.

13 Such are the paths of all who forget God;

the hope of the godless shall perish.

14 Their confidence is gossamer,

a spider’s house their trust.

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?

11 Can papyrus grow tall where there is not a marsh?

Will reeds flourish without water?

12 While it is in its flower and is not plucked,

yet it withers before all grass.

13 So are the paths of all who forget God;

and the hope of the godless will perish,

14 whose confidence is cut off

and whose trust is a spider’s house.

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?

11 Can grass grow tall where there isn’t any swamp?

Can plants grow well where there isn’t any water?

12 While they are still growing and haven’t been cut,

they dry up faster than grass does.

13 The same thing happens to everyone who forgets God.

The hope of ungodly people dies out.

14 What they trust in is very weak.

What they depend on is like a spider’s web.

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?

11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?

Can the rushes grow without water?

12 “While it is still green and not cut down,

Yet it withers before any other plant.

13 “So are the paths of all who forget God;

And the hope of the godless will perish,

14 Whose confidence is fragile,

And whose trust a spider’s web.