Ecclésiaste 7:8

8 Mieux vaut la fin d'une chose que son commencement; mieux vaut un esprit patient qu'un esprit hautain.

Ecclésiaste 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 ) .

Ecclésiaste 7:8 In-Context

6 Car tel qu'est le bruit des épines sous la chaudière, tel est le rire de l'insensé. Cela aussi est une vanité.
7 Certainement l'oppression peut faire perdre le sens au sage; et le présent corrompt le cœur.
8 Mieux vaut la fin d'une chose que son commencement; mieux vaut un esprit patient qu'un esprit hautain.
9 Ne te hâte point dans ton esprit de t'irriter; car l'irritation repose dans le sein des insensés.
10 Ne dis point: D'où vient que les jours passés étaient meilleurs que ceux-ci? Car ce n'est point par sagesse que tu t'enquiers de cela.
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.