The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.
Parallel translations
- WEB Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
- KJV Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
- NKJV The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
- NASB The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than arrogance of spirit.
- NLT Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience surpasses pride. It matters because outcomes and humble perseverance prove more valuable than promising starts or arrogance.
Overview
The Preacher commends seeing things through and the patient, humble spirit over the proud one. Wisdom values the finished work and the long-suffering heart. This echoes the biblical premium on endurance (James 1:4) and points to Christ, who endured to the end (Hebrews 12:2) and whose patient humility is the believer's pattern (Philippians 2:5-8).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Heb 10:36You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
- Ps 126:5–6Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.
- Prov 14:29A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- 1 Pet 1:13Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- Jas 5:11See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
- Jas 5:8You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.
- Prov 15:18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
- Luke 21:19By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.
- Prov 16:32He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
- Gal 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Luke 16:25But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.
- Rom 2:7–8To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.
- Prov 13:10Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
- 1 Pet 2:20–21How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
- Prov 28:25A greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
- Eph 4:2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
- 1 Pet 5:5–6Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Isa 10:24–25Therefore this is what the Lord GOD of Hosts says: “O My people who dwell in Zion, do not fear Assyria, who strikes you with a rod and lifts his staff against you as the Egyptians did.
- Isa 10:28–34Assyria has entered Aiath and passed through Migron, storing their supplies at Michmash.
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Christ at the center
The search that finds everything 'under the sun' to be vapor exposes the emptiness of life without God and drives us to the one who alone gives meaning, the resurrection that makes our labor not in vain.
How Ecclesiastes 7:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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