New English Translation
Ecclesiastes 7:8
8The end of a matter is better than its beginning; likewise, patience is better than pride.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
- New International Version (NIV)The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Context of Ecclesiastes 7:8
6For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly also is useless. 7Surely oppression can turn a wise person into a fool; likewise, a bribe corrupts the heart. The end of a matter is better than its beginning; likewise, patience is better than pride. 9Do not let yourself be quickly provoked, for anger resides in the lap of fools. 10Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?” for it is not wise to ask that.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 7Ecclesiastes 7:8 word by word
ט֛וֹב אַחֲרִ֥ית דָּבָ֖ר מֵֽרֵאשִׁית֑וֹ ט֥וֹב אֶֽרֶךְ־ר֖וּחַ מִגְּבַהּ־רֽוּחַ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:8
- Psalms 126:5Those who shed tears as they plant will shout for joy when they reap the harvest.
- Isaiah 10:24So here is what the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, says: “My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of Assyria, even though they beat you with a club and lift their cudgel against you as Egypt did.
- Luke 16:25But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish.
- James 5:11Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
- 1 Peter 1:13Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
- Proverbs 13:10With pride comes only contention, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
- Proverbs 14:29The one who is slow to anger has great understanding, but the one who has a quick temper exalts folly.
- Proverbs 15:18A quick-tempered person stirs up dissension, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.
- Proverbs 16:32Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city.
- Proverbs 28:25The greedy person stirs up dissension, but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
- Luke 21:19By your endurance you will gain your lives.
- Romans 2:7eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality,
- Hebrews 10:36For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised.
- James 5:8You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near.
- 1 Peter 2:20For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.
- 1 Peter 5:5In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Better is the end - We can then judge of the whole, and especially if the matter relate to the conduct of Divine Providence. At the beginning we are often apt to make very rash conjectures, and often suppose that such and such things are against us; and that every thing is going wrong. Dr. Byrom gives good advice on such a subject: - "With patient mind thy course of duty run: God nothing does, nor suffers to be done, But thou wouldst do thyself, couldst…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Better - Inasmuch as something certain is attained, man contemplates the end throughout an entire course of action, and does not rest upon the beginning. Patient proud - literally, “Long,” long-suffering “high,” in the sense of impatient.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 The event of our trials and difficulties is often better than at first we thought. Surely it is better to be patient in spirit, than to be proud and hasty. Be not soon angry, nor quick in resenting an affront. Be not long angry; though anger may come into the bosom of a wise man, it passes through it as a way-faring man; it dwells only in the bosom of fools. It is folly to cry out upon the badness of our times, when we have more reason to cry…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8It is better to finish a project with patience than to start it with boastful words.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. connected with Ec 7:7. Let the "wise" wait for "the end," and the "oppressions" which now (in "the beginning") perplex their faith, will be found by God's working to be overruled to their good. "Tribulation worketh patience" (Ro 5:3), which is infinitely better than "the proud spirit" that prosperity might have generated in them, as it has in fools (Psa 73:2, 3, 12-14, 17-26; Jas 5:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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