Job 8:7-17
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 8
7Though 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. 9For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow. 10Will they not teach you and tell you, And bring forth words from their minds? 11'Can papyrus grow tall without a marsh? Can the rushes grow without water? 12While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other plant. 13So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish, 14His confidence is fragile, And his trust is a spider’s web. 15He depends on his house, but it does not stand; He holds on to it, but it does not endure. 16He flourishes before the sun, And his shoots spread out over his garden. 17His roots wrap around a rock pile, He grasps a house of stones.King James Version
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 8
7Then, even if your beginnings were modest, your final days will be full of prosperity. 8For ask the previous generation, and pay attention to what their fathers discovered, 9since we were born only yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are but a shadow. 10Will they not teach you and tell you and speak from their understanding? 11Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water? 12While still uncut shoots, they would dry up quicker than any other plant.
13Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish.
14His source of confidence is fragile; what he trusts in is a spider’s web.
15He leans on his web, but it doesn’t stand firm. He grabs it, but it does not hold up.
16He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine; his shoots spread out over his garden.
17His roots are intertwined around a pile of rocks. He looks for a home among the stones.
New Living Translation
8'Just ask the previous generation. Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors.
9For we were born but yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are as fleeting as a shadow.
10But 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?
12While they are still flowering, not ready to be cut, they begin to wither more quickly than grass.
13The same happens to all who forget God. The hopes of the godless evaporate.
14Their confidence hangs by a thread. They are leaning on a spider’s web.
15They cling to their home for security, but it won’t last. They try to hold it tight, but it will not endure.
16The godless seem like a lush plant growing in the sunshine, its branches spreading across the garden.
17Its roots grow down through a pile of stones; it takes hold on a bed of rocks.
English Standard Version
Chapter 8
7And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great. 8"For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out. 9For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow. 10Will 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? 12While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant. 13Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish. 14His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider 's web. 15He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure. 16He is a lush plant before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden. 17His roots entwine the stone heap; he looks upon a house of stones.New International Version
Chapter 8
7Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be. 8"Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned, 9for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow. 10Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding? 11Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water? 12While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass. 13Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. 14What they trust in is fragile ; what they rely on is a spider’s web. 15They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold. 16They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden; 17it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks and looks for a place among the stones.New King James Version
