Parallel Verses
World English Bible
Don't say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For you do not ask wisely about this.
New American Standard Bible
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
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.
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
Ri'shown
Yowm
Towb
Sha'al
References
Hastings
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 7:10
Verse Info
Context Readings
Wisdom'Although Vulnerable'Is Beneficial
9 Don't be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. 10 Don't say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For you do not ask wisely about this. 11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
Phrases
Names
Cross References
Genesis 6:11-12
The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Judges 6:13
Gideon said to him, "Oh, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, 'Didn't Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?' But now Yahweh has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian."
Psalm 14:2-3
Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who did understand, who did seek after God.
Isaiah 50:1
Thus says Yahweh, "Where is the bill of your mother's divorce, with which I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were you sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away.
Jeremiah 44:17-19
But we will certainly perform every word that is gone forth out of our mouth, to burn incense to the queen of the sky, 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; for then had we plenty of food, and were well, and saw no evil.
Romans 1:22-32
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Romans 3:9-19
What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin.