Parallel Verses

Holman Bible

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

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 Don’t let your spirit rush to be angry,
for anger abides in the heart of fools.
10 Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?”
since it is not wise of you to ask this.
11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance
and an advantage to those who see the sun,


Cross References

Genesis 6:11-12

Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with wickedness.

Judges 6:13

Gideon said to Him, “Please Sir, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all His wonders that our fathers told us about? They said, ‘Hasn’t the Lord brought us out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.”

Psalm 14:2-3

The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.

Isaiah 50:1

This is what the Lord says:

Where is your mother’s divorce certificate
that I used to send her away?
Or who were My creditors that I sold you to?
Look, you were sold for your iniquities,
and your mother was put away
because of your transgressions.

Jeremiah 44:17-19

Instead, we will do everything we said we would: burn incense to the queen of heaven and offer drink offerings to her just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in Judah’s cities and in Jerusalem’s streets. Then we had enough food and good things and saw no disaster,

Romans 1:22-32

Claiming to be wise, they became fools

Romans 3:9-19

What then? Are we any better? Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin,

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Word Concordance

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