“Ask the former generation(A)
    and find out what their ancestors learned,
for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,(B)
    and our days on earth are but a shadow.(C)
10 Will they not instruct(D) you and tell you?
    Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?(E)
11 Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?(F)
    Can reeds(G) thrive without water?
12 While still growing and uncut,
    they wither more quickly than grass.(H)
13 Such is the destiny(I) of all who forget God;(J)
    so perishes the hope of the godless.(K)
14 What they trust in is fragile[a];
    what they rely on is a spider’s web.(L)
15 They lean on the web,(M) but it gives way;
    they cling to it, but it does not hold.(N)
16 They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine,
    spreading its shoots(O) over the garden;(P)
17 it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks
    and looks for a place among the stones.
18 But when it is torn from its spot,
    that place disowns(Q) it and says, ‘I never saw you.’(R)
19 Surely its life withers(S) away,
    and[b] from the soil other plants grow.(T)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 8:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  2. Job 8:19 Or Surely all the joy it has / is that

For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

(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.

15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.

17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.

18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.

19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

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“For(A) inquire, please, of the former age,
And consider the things discovered by their fathers;
For (B)we were born yesterday, and know [a]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 (C)While it is yet green and not cut down,
It withers before any other plant.
13 So are the paths of all who (D)forget God;
And the hope of the (E)hypocrite shall perish,
14 Whose confidence shall be cut off,
And whose trust is [b]a spider’s web.
15 (F)He leans on his house, but it does not stand.
He holds it fast, but it does not endure.
16 He grows green in the sun,
And his branches spread out in his garden.
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap,
And look for a place in the stones.
18 (G)If he is destroyed from his place,
Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’

19 “Behold, this is the joy of His way,
And (H)out of the earth others will grow.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 8:9 Lit. not
  2. Job 8:14 Lit. a spider’s house