Job 8:8
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
For inquire, I pray you, of the former age, and prepare yourself to the search of their fathers:
American King James Version (AKJV)
For inquire, I pray you, of the former age, and prepare yourself to the search of their fathers:
American Standard Version (ASV)
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out:
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Put the question now to the past generations, and give attention to what has been searched out by their fathers:
Webster's Revision
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
World English Bible
"Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.
English Revised Version (ERV)
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out:
Clarke's Job 8:8 Bible Commentary
Inquire - of the former age - לדור רישון ledor rishon, of the first age; of the patriarchs; the first generation of men that dwelt upon the earth: not of the age that was just past, as Mr. Peters and several others have imagined, in order to keep up the presumption of Job's high antiquity. Bildad most evidently refers to an antiquity exceedingly remote.
Barnes's Job 8:8 Bible Commentary
For inquire thee of the former age - That is, attend to the results of observation. Ask the generations which have passed, and who in their poems and proverbs have left the records of their experience. The sentiment which Bildad proposes to confirm by this appeal is, that though the wicked should for a time flourish, yet they would be cut off, and that the righteous, though they may be for a time afflicted, yet if they seek God, they will ultimately prosper. It was common to make these appeals to the ancients. The results of observation were embodied in proverbs, parables, fables, and fragments of poems; and he was regarded as among the wisest of men who had the fruits of these observations most at command. To that Bildad appeals, and especially, as would appear, to the fragment of an ancient poem which he proceeds to repeat, and which, perhaps, is the oldest poem extant in any language.
And prepare thyself - Make an effort, or give diligent attention to it.
To the search of their fathers - Of the bygone generations, not only to the age immediately past, but to their ancestors. He would bring the results of the observation of far distant ages to confirm the sentiment which he had advanced.
Wesley's Job 8:8 Bible Commentary
8:8 Search - Seriously and industriously search the ancient records.