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Selected Verse: Ecclesiates 7:8 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ec 7:8 |
Strong Concordance |
Better [02896] is the end [0319] of a thing [01697] than the beginning [07225] thereof: and the patient [0750] in spirit [07307] is better [02896] than the proud [01362] in spirit [07307]. |
| |
King James |
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| connected with Ecc 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" (Rom 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, Psa 73:12-14, Psa 73:17-26; Jam 5:11). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Better - 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. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
There now follows a fourth, or, taking into account the mutilated one, a fifth proverb of that which is better: "Better the end of a thing than its beginning; better one who forbears than one who is haughty. Hasten thyself not in thy spirit to become angry: for anger lieth down in the bosom of fools." The clause 8a is first thus to be objectively understood as it stands. It is not without limitation true; for of a matter in itself evil, the very contrary is true, Pro 5:4; Pro 23:32. But if a thing is not in itself evil, the end of its progress, the reaching to its goal, the completion of its destination, is always better than its beginning, which leaves it uncertain whether it will lead to a prosperous issue. An example of this is Solon's saying to Croesus, that only he is to be pronounced happy whose good fortune it is to end his life well in the possession of his wealth (Herod. i. 32).
The proverb Ecc 7:8 will stand in some kind of connection with 8a, since what it says is further continued in Ecc 7:9. In itself, the frequently long and tedious development between the beginning and the end of a thing requires expectant patience. But if it is in the interest of a man to see the matter brought to an issue, an ארך אףּ will, notwithstanding, wait with self-control in all quietness for the end; while it lies in the nature of the רוּח גּבהּ, the haughty, to fret at the delay, and to seek to reach the end by violent means; for the haughty man thinks that everything must at once be subservient to his wish, and he measures what others should do by his own measureless self-complacency. We may with Hitzig translate: "Better is patience (ארך = ארך) than haughtiness" (גּבהּ, inf., as שׁפל, Ecc 12:4; Pro 16:19). But there exists no reason for this; גּבהּ is not to be held, as at Pro 16:5, and elsewhere generally, as the connecting form of גּבהּ, and so ארך for that of ארך; it amounts to the same thing whether the two properties (characters) or the persons possessing them are compared. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| The end - The good or evil of things is better known by their end, than by their beginning. The patient - Who quietly waits for the issue of things. The proud - Which he puts instead of hasty or impatient, because pride is the chief cause of impatience. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Better 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 thou but see
The and of all events, as well as He."
I may add, in the words of our paraphrast: -
"Wait the result, nor ask with frantic rage
Why God permits such things. His ways, though now
Involved in clouds and darkness, will appear
All right, when from thine eyes the mist is cleared.
Till then, to learn submission to his will
More wisdom shows, than vainly thus to attempt
Exploring what thou canst not comprehend,
And God for wisest ends thinks fit to hide."
C. |
11 Behold [2400], we count them happy [3106] which endure [5278]. Ye have heard [191] of the patience [5281] of Job [2492], and [2532] have seen [1492] the end [5056] of the Lord [2962]; that [3754] the Lord [2962] is [2076] very pitiful [4184], and [2532] of tender mercy [3629].
17 Until I went [0935] into the sanctuary [04720] of God [0410]; then understood [0995] I their end [0319].
18 Surely thou didst set [07896] them in slippery places [02513]: thou castedst them down [05307] into destruction [04876].
19 How are they brought into desolation [08047], as in a moment [07281]! they are utterly [05486] consumed [08552] with terrors [01091].
20 As a dream [02472] when one awaketh [06974]; so, O Lord [0136], when thou awakest [05782], thou shalt despise [0959] their image [06754].
21 Thus my heart [03824] was grieved [02556], and I was pricked [08150] in my reins [03629].
22 So foolish [01198] was I, and ignorant [03045]: I was as a beast [0929] before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually [08548] with thee: thou hast holden [0270] me by my right [03225] hand [03027].
24 Thou shalt guide [05148] me with thy counsel [06098], and afterward [0310] receive [03947] me to glory [03519].
25 Whom have I in heaven [08064] but thee? and there is none upon earth [0776] that I desire [02654] beside thee.
26 My flesh [07607] and my heart [03824] faileth [03615]: but God [0430] is the strength [06697] of my heart [03824], and my portion [02506] for ever [05769].
12 Behold, these are the ungodly [07563], who prosper [07961] in the world [05769]; they increase [07685] in riches [02428].
13 Verily I have cleansed [02135] my heart [03824] in vain [07385], and washed [07364] my hands [03709] in innocency [05356].
14 For all the day [03117] long have I been plagued [05060], and chastened [08433] every morning [01242].
2 But as for me, my feet [07272] were almost [04592] gone [05186] [05186]; my steps [0838] had well nigh [0369] slipped [08210].
3 For I was envious [07065] at the foolish [01984], when I saw [07200] the prosperity [07965] of the wicked [07563].
3 And [1161] not [3756] only [3440] so, but [235] we glory [2744] in [1722] tribulations [2347] also [2532]: knowing [1492] that [3754] tribulation [2347] worketh [2716] patience [5281];
7 Surely oppression [06233] maketh a wise man [02450] mad [01984]; and a gift [04979] destroyeth [06] the heart [03820].
5 Every one that is proud [01362] in heart [03820] is an abomination [08441] to the LORD [03068]: though hand [03027] join in hand [03027], he shall not be unpunished [05352].
19 Better [02896] it is to be of an humble [08217] spirit [07307] with the lowly [06035] [06041], than to divide [02505] the spoil [07998] with the proud [01343].
4 And the doors [01817] shall be shut [05462] in the streets [07784], when the sound [06963] of the grinding [02913] is low [08217], and he shall rise up [06965] at the voice [06963] of the bird [06833], and all the daughters [01323] of musick [07892] shall be brought low [07817];
9 Be not hasty [0926] in thy spirit [07307] to be angry [03707]: for anger [03708] resteth [05117] in the bosom [02436] of fools [03684].
8 Better [02896] is the end [0319] of a thing [01697] than the beginning [07225] thereof: and the patient [0750] in spirit [07307] is better [02896] than the proud [01362] in spirit [07307].
32 At the last [0319] it biteth [05391] like a serpent [05175], and stingeth [06567] like an adder [06848].
4 But her end [0319] is bitter [04751] as wormwood [03939], sharp [02299] as a twoedged [06310] sword [02719].