Parallel Verses

A Conservative Version

Say thou not, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou 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.

King James Version

Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

Holman Bible

Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?”
since it is not wise of you to ask this.

International Standard Version

Never ask "Why does the past seem so much better than now?" because this question does not come from wisdom.

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.

Amplified


Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

Bible in Basic English

Say not, Why were the days which have gone by better than these? Such a question comes not from wisdom.

Darby Translation

Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

Julia Smith Translation

Thou shalt not say, Why was it the former days were good above these? for thou didst not ask from wisdom concerning this

King James 2000

Say you not, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

Lexham Expanded Bible

Do not say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For [it is] not from wisdom [that] you ask this.

Modern King James verseion

Do not say, Why was it that the former days were better than these? For you do not ask wisely in regard to this.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

Say not thou, "What is the cause that the days of the old time were better than they that be now?" For that were no wise question.

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.

The Emphasized Bible

Do not say, What hath happened, that, the former days, were better than these? for, not wisely, askest thou concerning this.

Webster

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.

Youngs Literal Translation

Say not thou, 'What was it, That the former days were better than these?' For thou hast not asked wisely of this.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
not thou, What is the cause that the former
ראשׁן ראשׁון 
Ri'shown 
Usage: 182

יום 
Yowm 
Usage: 2293

שׁאל שׁאל 
Sha'al 
Usage: 172

חכמה 
Chokmah 
Usage: 149

References

Hastings

Verse Info

Context Readings

Wisdom'Although Vulnerable'Is Beneficial

9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. 10 Say thou not, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou do not inquire wisely concerning this. 11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

Cross References

Genesis 6:11-12

And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

Judges 6:13

And Gideon said to him, Oh, my lord, if LORD is with us, then why has all this befallen us? And where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not LORD bring us up from Egypt? But now LORD has cast us of

Psalm 14:2-3

LORD looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there were any who understood, who sought after God.

Isaiah 50:1

Thus says LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, with which I have put her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities ye were sold, and for your transgressions your moth

Jeremiah 44:17-19

But we will certainly perform every word that has gone forth out of our mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our rulers, in the ci

Romans 1:22-32

Professing to be wise, they became foolish,

Romans 3:9-19

What then? Are we better? Not at all. For we already charged both Jews and Greeks to all be under sin,

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain