Ecclesiastes 7:10
Say not thou: 'How was it that the former days were better than these?' for it is not out of wisdom that thou inquirest concerning this.
JPS TaNaKH 1917
In The King James Version
In Context
9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
11Wisdom is good with an inheritance, yea, a profit to them that see the sun.
Cross References
Genesis 6:11And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Psalms 14:2The LORD looked forth from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any man of understanding, that did seek after God.
Jeremiah 44:17But we will certainly perform every word that is gone forth out of our mouth, to offer 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 food, and were well, and saw no evil.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 7:8-11
Scenes of Mourning and of Joy. 7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. 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. 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. Solomon had often complained before of the oppressions which he saw under the… Read the whole commentary →