Ecclesiastes 7:10

Ecclesiastes 7:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

Context of Ecclesiastes 7:10

8The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one. 9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool. Do 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. 12For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 word by word

אַל־תֹּאמַר֙ מֶ֣ה הָיָ֔ה שֶׁ֤הַיָּמִים֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים הָי֥וּ טוֹבִ֖ים מֵאֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֛י לֹ֥א מֵחָכְמָ֖ה שָׁאַ֥לְתָּ עַל־זֶֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Do notאַל'al · notH408
• sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Whyמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• wereהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• the oldרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · first: previousH7223
• daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• than theseאֵ֫לֶּה'êlleh · theseH428
• Forכִּיkîy · forH3588
• it is unwiseלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• it is unwiseחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• of you to askשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• aboutעַל‛al · uponH5921
• thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:10

• Judges 6:13“Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonders of which our fathers told us, saying, ‘Has not the LORD brought us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”
• Jeremiah 44:17Instead, we will do everything we vowed to do: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and offer drink offerings to her, just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and good things, and we saw no disaster.
• Genesis 6:11Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence.
• Psalms 14:2The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.
• Isaiah 50:1This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
• Romans 1:22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,
• Romans 3:9What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10The former days were better than these? - This is a common saying; and it is as foolish as it is common. There is no weight nor truth in it; but men use it to excuse their crimes, and the folly of their conduct. "In former times, say they, men might be more religious, use more self-denial, be more exemplary." This is all false. In former days men were wicked as they are now, and religion was unfashionable: God also is the same now as he was then; as just…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 The event of our trials and difficulties is often better than at first we thought. Surely it is better to be patient in spirit, than to be proud and hasty. Be not soon angry, nor quick in resenting an affront. Be not long angry; though anger may come into the bosom of a wise man, it passes through it as a way-faring man; it dwells only in the bosom of fools. It is folly to cry out upon the badness of our times, when we have more reason to cry…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-22God's control over everything is serious, but it gives us hope.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. Do not call in question God's ways in making thy former days better than thy present, as Job did (Job 29:2-5). The very putting of the question argues that heavenly "wisdom" (Margin) is not as much as it ought made the chief good with thee.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:10

• Murmuring

In the dictionaries

• Adversity
• Bosom
• Consider
• Crackling
• Living
• Rest
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings