Ecclesiastes 7:8

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 in Other Translations

8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

8 Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.

8 Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out.

8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; [and] the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

8 The end of something is better than its beginning. It is better to be patient than arrogant.

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning; a patient spirit is better than a proud spirit.

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning. So it's better to be patient than proud.

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 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.

7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 14:29; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 4:2