Ecclesiastes 7:8

8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and he who has suffered in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 7:8

Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof
If the thing is good, other ways the end of it is worse; as the end of wickedness and wicked men, whose beginning is sweet, but the end bitter; yea, are the ways of death, ( Proverbs 5:4 ) ( 16:25 ) ; and so the end of carnal professors and apostates, who begin in the Spirit, and end in the flesh, ( Galatians 3:3 ) ( 2 Peter 2:20 2 Peter 2:21 ) ; but the end of good things, and of good men, is better than the beginning; as the end of Job was, both with respect to things temporal and spiritual, ( Job 8:7 ) ( 42:12 ) ; see ( Psalms 37:37 ) ( Matthew 10:22 ) ( Luke 16:25 ) ; [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit;
patience is a fruit of the Spirit of God; and is of great use in the Christian's life, and especially in bearing afflictions, and tends to make men more humble, meek, and quiet; and such are highly esteemed of God; on them he looks, with them he dwells, and to them he gives more grace; when such who are proud, and elated with themselves, their riches or righteousness, are abominable to him; see ( Luke 16:15 ) ( 18:14 ) .

Ecclesiastes 7:8 In-Context

6 The laughter of the fool is as the crackling of thorns under a pot, and this also (the laughter or prosperity of the fool) is vanity.

7 Surely oppression makes a wise man mad, and a gift destroys the heart.

8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and he who has suffered in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 Do not be hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 Never say, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.