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

8Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit. 9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools. Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. 11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun. 12For wisdom is a defence [as] money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, [that] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 word by word

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

• Sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Howמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• formerרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · first: previousH7223
• daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• wereהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:10

• Judges 6:13And Gideon said to him, Ah my Lord, if Jehovah be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where are all his miracles that our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Jehovah bring us up from Egypt? And now Jehovah hath cast us off, and given us into the hand of Midian.
• Jeremiah 44:17but we will certainly do every word that is gone forth out of our mouth, to burn incense to the queen of the heavens, and to pour out drink-offerings to 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; and we had plenty of bread, and were well, and saw no evil.
• Genesis 6:11And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was full of violence.
• Psalms 14:2Jehovah looked down from the heavens upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
• Isaiah 50:1Thus saith Jehovah: Where is the bill of your mother's divorce, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, through your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
• Romans 1:22professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
• Romans 3:9What then? are we better? No, in no wise: for we have before charged both Jews and Greeks with being 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