Tree of Life Version
Ecclesiastes 7:10
10Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.
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 the end of a matter than its beginning. Better a patient spirit than a proud one. 9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the bosom of fools. Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. 11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and even better for those who see the sun. 12For wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: wisdom preserves the life of the one who possesses it.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 7Ecclesiastes 7:10 word by word
אַל־תֹּאמַר֙ מֶ֣ה הָיָ֔ה שֶׁ֤הַיָּמִים֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים הָי֥וּ טוֹבִ֖ים מֵאֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֛י לֹ֥א מֵחָכְמָ֖ה שָׁאַ֥לְתָּ עַל־זֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:10
- Judges 6:13But Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if Adonai is with us, then why has all this befallen us? So where are all His wonders that our fathers told us about saying ‘Didn’t Adonai bring us up from Egypt?’ But now Adonai has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
- Jeremiah 44:17Instead we will definitely do every word as went out of our mouth—burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as we did, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem—for then we had plenty of food, were well off, and saw no calamity.
- Genesis 6:11Now the earth was ruined before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
- Psalms 14:2Adonai looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
- Isaiah 50:1Thus says Adonai: “Where is the divorce certificate, by which I sent your mother away? Or to whom of My creditors did I sell you? See, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
- Romans 1:22Claiming to be wise, they became fools.
- Romans 3:9What then? Are we better than they? No, not at all. For we have already made the case that all—both Jewish and Greek people—are 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
In the dictionaries
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
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