Ecclesiastes 7:10
8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this.
- KJV
- Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
- WEB
- Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.
- ASV
- Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
- DARBY
- Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
- BLB
- 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.
- ÅB
- Si ikke: Hvorav kommer det at de fremfarne dager var bedre enn de som nå er? For det er ikke av visdom du spør om det.
- OTB
- Spør ikke: "Hvorfor var de tidligere dager bedre enn disse?" For det er ikke klokt å spørre om slikt.
- B1930
- Si ikke: Hvorav kommer det at de fremfarne dager var bedre enn de som nu er? For det er ikke av visdom du spør om det.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 14:2–3
The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
Read in contextGenesis 6:11–12
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Read in contextRomans 1:22–32
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Read in contextIsaiah 50:1
Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
Read in contextJudges 6:13
And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
Read in contextRomans 3:9–19
What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
Read in contextJeremiah 44:17–19
But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto 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 victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
Read in context