Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. New Living Translation Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise. English Standard Version Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. Berean Standard Bible Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this. King James Bible Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. New King James Version Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this. New American Standard Bible Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. NASB 1995 Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. NASB 1977 Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. Legacy Standard Bible Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. Amplified Bible Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. Christian Standard Bible Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these? ” since it is not wise of you to ask this. Holman Christian Standard Bible Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” since it is not wise of you to ask this. American Standard Version Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. Contemporary English Version It isn't wise to ask, "Why is everything worse than it used to be?" English Revised Version Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. GOD'S WORD® Translation Don't ask, "Why were things better in the old days than they are now?" It isn't wisdom that leads you to ask this! Good News Translation Never ask, "Oh, why were things so much better in the old days?" It's not an intelligent question. International Standard Version Never ask "Why does the past seem so much better than now?" because this question does not come from wisdom. Majority Standard Bible Do not say, ?Why were the old days better than these?? For it is unwise of you to ask about this. NET Bible Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these days?" for it is not wise to ask that. New Heart English Bible Do not say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For you do not ask wisely about this. Webster's Bible Translation Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. World English Bible Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionDo not say, “What was it, "" That the former days were better than these?” For you have not asked wisely of this. Young's Literal Translation Say not thou, 'What was it, That the former days were better than these?' For thou hast not asked wisely of this. Smith's Literal Translation Thou shalt not say, Why was it the former days were good above these? for thou didst not ask from wisdom concerning this. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSay not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were better than they are now? for this manner of question is foolish. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Do not say: How is it that former times were better than these? For it is not out of wisdom that you ask about this. New Revised Standard Version Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSay not, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For you do not enquire wisely concerning this. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Do not say: "Why is it that the former days were better than these"?, because it is not in wisdom you ask about these things OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Say not thou: 'How was it that the former days were better than these?' for it is not out of wisdom that thou inquirest concerning this. Brenton Septuagint Translation Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire in wisdom concerning this. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Value of Wisdom…9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool. 10Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this. 11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.… Cross References Isaiah 43:18-19 “Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old. / Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert. Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, / I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding. Luke 9:62 Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. / I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’ Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own. Proverbs 24:14 Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off. Romans 8:28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” Proverbs 16:16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver. Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Treasury of Scripture Say not you, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for you do not inquire wisely concerning this. what Judges 6:13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. Jeremiah 44:17-19 But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil… wisely or out of wisdom Genesis 6:11,12 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence… Psalm 14:2,3 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God… Isaiah 50:1 Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away. Jump to Previous Better Cause Enquire Former Inquire Inquirest Question Questions Wisdom Wise WiselyJump to Next Better Cause Enquire Former Inquire Inquirest Question Questions Wisdom Wise WiselyEcclesiastes 7 1. remedies against vanity are, a good name2. mortification 7. patience 11. wisdom 23. The difficulty of wisdom Do not say This phrase serves as a direct admonition, urging the reader to refrain from a particular line of questioning. In the Hebrew text, the verb used here is "תֹּאמַר" (to'mar), which is a form of the verb "אמר" (amar), meaning "to say" or "to speak." This command suggests a proactive choice in our speech and thoughts, emphasizing the importance of guarding our words and attitudes. In a broader biblical context, the power of speech is a recurring theme, as seen in Proverbs 18:21, which states, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." Why were the old days better than these? For it is unwise of you to ask about this "Difficilis, querulus, laudater temporis acti "Morose and querulous, praising former days "... et nisi quae terris semota suisque Hebrew Do notאַל־ (’al-) Adverb Strong's 408: Not say, תֹּאמַר֙ (tō·mar) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Why מֶ֣ה (meh) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what were הָיָ֔ה (hā·yāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be the old הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים (hā·ri·šō·nîm) Article | Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank days שֶׁ֤הַיָּמִים֙ (še·hay·yā·mîm) Pronoun - relative, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3117: A day better טוֹבִ֖ים (ṭō·w·ḇîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good than these?” מֵאֵ֑לֶּה (mê·’êl·leh) Preposition-m | Pronoun - common plural Strong's 428: These, those For כִּ֛י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction it is unwise מֵחָכְמָ֖ה (mê·ḥā·ḵə·māh) Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2451: Wisdom of you to ask שָׁאַ֥לְתָּ (šā·’al·tā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand about עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against this. זֶֽה׃ (zeh) Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that Links Ecclesiastes 7:10 NIVEcclesiastes 7:10 NLT Ecclesiastes 7:10 ESV Ecclesiastes 7:10 NASB Ecclesiastes 7:10 KJV Ecclesiastes 7:10 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 7:10 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 7:10 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 7:10 French Bible Ecclesiastes 7:10 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 7:10 Don't say Why were the former days (Ecclesiast. 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