Parallel Verses

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.

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.

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 Do not be quick in your spirit (mind) (figurative heart) to be angry. Anger rests in the bosom of fools. 10 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.
11 Wisdom is good as an inheritance: It is an advantage to those who see the sun.

Cross References

Genesis 6:11-12

The earth was corrupt in God's sight. It was full of violence.

Judges 6:13

Gideon said to him: May I ask, sir, why has all this happened to us if Jehovah is with us? What happened to all the wonderful things that our fathers told us Jehovah used to do, how he brought them out of Egypt? Jehovah has abandoned us. He left us to the mercy of the Midianites.

Psalm 14:2-3

Jehovah looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there is anyone who acts wisely, if there is anyone who seeks help from God.

Isaiah 50:1

This is what Jehovah says: Where are your mother's divorce papers? Did I give her any to get rid of her? To which of my creditors did I sell you? You were sold because of your sins. I got rid of your mother because of your rebellion.

Jeremiah 44:17-19

We will do everything that we said we would. We will offer sacrifices to our goddess, the Queen of Heaven, and we will pour out wine offerings to her, just as our ancestors, our king and our leaders, and we used to do in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. Then we had plenty of food, we were prosperous, and had no troubles.

Romans 1:22-32

Claiming to be wise, they became fools.

Romans 3:9-19

Are we Jews in any better condition than the people of the nations? Not at all! I have already shown that Jews and the people of the nations are all under the power of 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