New Living Translation
Ecclesiastes 7:8
8Finishing is better than starting. 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
6A fool’s laughter is quickly gone, like thorns crackling in a fire. This also is meaningless. 7Extortion turns wise people into fools, and bribes corrupt the heart. Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride. 9Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool. 10Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise.
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 plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
- Isaiah 10:24So this is what the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, says: “O my people in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians when they oppress you with rod and club as the Egyptians did long ago.
- Luke 16:25“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.
- James 5:11We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.
- 1 Peter 1:13So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.
- Proverbs 13:10Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.
- Proverbs 14:29People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.
- Proverbs 15:18A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them.
- Proverbs 16:32Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.
- Proverbs 28:25Greed causes fighting; trusting the Lord leads to prosperity.
- Luke 21:19By standing firm, you will win your souls.
- Romans 2:7He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.
- Hebrews 10:36Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
- James 5:8You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
- 1 Peter 2:20Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
- 1 Peter 5:5In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “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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