Ecclesiastes 7:10
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 Version
Do 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 Bible
Say 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
You should not say: “What do you think is the reason that the former times were better than they are now?” For this type of question is foolish.

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 Bible
Say 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 1917
Say 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 Wisely
Jump to Next
Better Cause Enquire Former Inquire Inquirest Question Questions Wisdom Wise Wisely
Ecclesiastes 7
1. remedies against vanity are, a good name
2. 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?
This question reflects a common human tendency to idealize the past, often referred to as nostalgia. The Hebrew word for "better" is "טוֹבִים" (tovim), which can also mean "good" or "pleasant." The phrase challenges the reader to consider the futility of longing for the past, as it can lead to discontentment with the present. Historically, the Israelites often looked back to the "good old days" of their ancestors, sometimes forgetting the struggles and challenges of those times. This longing can be seen in the wilderness wanderings, where the Israelites frequently reminisced about Egypt, despite their bondage there (Exodus 16:3).

For it is unwise
The term "unwise" in Hebrew is "לֹא מֵחָכְמָה" (lo me'chochmah), which literally translates to "not from wisdom." This phrase underscores the lack of wisdom in dwelling on the past at the expense of the present. Wisdom, or "חָכְמָה" (chochmah), is a central theme in the book of Ecclesiastes and is often associated with a deep understanding and reverence for God's ways. The pursuit of wisdom is encouraged throughout Scripture, as seen in Proverbs 4:7, "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom."

of you to ask about this
The act of asking, or "לִשְׁאֹל" (lish'ol), implies a seeking or inquiring mindset. In this context, it suggests a misplaced focus or curiosity. The rhetorical nature of the question implies that such inquiries are not only unwise but also unproductive. The broader scriptural narrative encourages believers to focus on the present and trust in God's provision and plan, as seen in Philippians 3:13-14, where Paul speaks of "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead."

(10) Concerning.--This preposition is used after "enquire" only in later Hebrew (Nehemiah 1:2).

Verse 10. - The same impatience leads a man to disparage the present in comparison with a past age. What is the cause that the former days were better than these? He does not know from any adequate information that preceding times were in any respect superior to present, but in his moody discontent he looks on what is around him with a jaundiced eye, and sees the past through a rose-tinted atmosphere, as an age of heroism, faith, and righteousness. Horace finds such a character in the morose old man, whom he describes in 'De Arte Poet.,' 173 -

"Difficilis, querulus, laudater temporis acti
Se puero, castigator censorque minornm."

"Morose and querulous, praising former days
When he was boy, now ever blaming youth."
And 'Epist.,' 2:1.22 -

"... et nisi quae terris semota suisque
Temporibus defuncta videt, fastidit et odit."
. . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not
אַל־ (’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 NIV
Ecclesiastes 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. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
Ecclesiastes 7:9
Top of Page
Top of Page