Pengkhotbah 7:10

Bahasa Indonesia Sehari-hari

Janganlah mengatakan: "Mengapa zaman dulu lebih baik dari pada zaman sekarang?" Karena bukannya berdasarkan hikmat engkau menanyakan hal itu.

Parallel Translations

Alkitab Terjemahan Baru
Janganlah mengatakan: "Mengapa zaman dulu lebih baik dari pada zaman sekarang?" Karena bukannya berdasarkan hikmat engkau menanyakan hal itu.

Contextual Overview

⁷ The wyse man hateth wrong dealing, and abhorreth the heart that coueteth rewardes. ⁸ Better is it to consider the ende of a thing then the beginning: The pacient of spirite, is better then the hye minded. ⁹ Be not hastyly angrie in thy minde: for wrath resteth in the bosome of fooles. ¹⁰ Say not thou, What is the cause that the dayes of the old time were better then they that be nowe? for that were no wyse question.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

What: Judges 6:13, Jeremiah 44:17-19

wisely: Heb. out of wisdom, Genesis 6:11, Genesis 6:12, Psalms 14:2, Psalms 14:3, Isaiah 50:1, Romans 1:22-32, Romans 3:9-19

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:54 - Send me 1 Samuel 25:10 - there be Ecclesiastes 1:9 - that hath

Cross-References

Genesis 6:17
And beholde, I, euen I do bryng a fludde of waters vpon the earth, to destroy all fleshe wherin is the breath of lyfe vnder heauen, and euery thyng that is in the earth shall perishe.

Genesis 7:4
For after seuen dayes, I wyl rayne vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes: & all substaunce that I haue made, wyll I destroy from the vpper face of the earth.

Genesis 7:17
And the fludde came fourtie dayes vpon the earth, and the waters were increased, and bare vp the arke, whiche was lyft vp aboue the earth.

Genesis 7:20
Fyfteene cubites vpward did the waters preuayle, so that the mountaynes were couered.

Job 22:16
Whiche were cut downe out of time, and whose foundation was as an ouerflowing ryuer.

Luke 17:27
They dyd eate, and drynke, they maryed wiues, and were maryed, euen vnto the same day that Noe went into the Arke: and the fludde came, & destroyed them all.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Say not thou, what is [the cause] that the former days were better than these?.... This is a common opinion, that in all ages prevails among men, that former times were better than present ones; that trade flourished more, and men got more wealth and riches, and lived in greater ease and plenty; and complain that their lot is cast in such hard times, and are ready to lay the blame upon the providence of God, and murmur at it, which they should not do;

for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this: this is owing to ignorance of former times; which, if rightly inquired into, or the true knowledge of them could be come at, it would appear that they were no better than the present; and that there were always bad men, and bad things done; frauds, oppressions, and violence, and everything that can be complained of now: or if things are worse than they were, this should be imputed to the badness of men; and the inquirer should look to himself, and his own ways, and see if there is not a cause there, and study to redeem the time, because the days are evil; and not arraign the providence of God, and murmur at that, and quarrel with it; as if the distributions of it were unequal, and justice not done in one age as in another

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ecclesiastes 7:10. The former days were better than these? — This is a common saying; and it is as foolish as it is common. There is no weight nor truth in it; but men use it to excuse their crimes, and the folly of their conduct. "In former times, say they, men might be more religious, use more self-denial, be more exemplary." This is all false. In former days men were wicked as they are now, and religion was unfashionable: God also is the same now as he was then; as just, as merciful, as ready to help: and there is no depravity in the age that will excuse your crimes, your follies, and your carelessness.

Among the oriental proverbs I find the following:

"Many say, This is a corrupt age. This mode of speaking is not just; it is not the age that is corrupt, but the men of the age."