Ecclesiastes 7:8

6 ^aFor like the¹ crackling of thorns under a pot,
So is the laughter of the fool.
This also is vanity.

7 Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason,
^aAnd a bribe¹ debases the heart.

8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning;
^aThe patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 ^aDo not hasten in your spirit to be angry,
For anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 Do not say,
“Why were the former days better than these?”
For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
And profitable ^ato those who see the sun.

12 For wisdom is¹ a ^adefense as money is a defense,
But the¹ excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives ^blife to those who have it.

13 Consider the work of God;
For ^awho can make straight what He has made crooked?

14 ^aIn the day of prosperity be joyful,
But in the day of adversity consider:
Surely God has appointed the one¹ as well as the other,
So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.

15 I have seen everything in my days of vanity:
^aThere is a just man who perishes in his righteousness,
And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.

16 ^aDo not be overly righteous,
^bNor be overly wise:
Why should you destroy yourself?

17 Do not be overly wicked,
Nor be foolish:
^aWhy should you die before your time?

Verse Comparison: Ecclesiastes 7:8

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Ecclesiastes 7:9 >>

American Standard Version
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; `and' the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Amplified® Bible
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Contemporary English Version
Something completed is better than something just begun; patience is better than too much pride.

Darby English Version
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit.

Good News Bible
The end of something is better than its beginning. Patience is better than pride.

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

New American Standard Bible
The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.

New International Version
The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.

New King James Version
The end of a thing is better than its beginning;
The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
The end of a matter seems better than its beginning; Patience of spirit has more value than haughtiness of spirit.

Revised Standard Version
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Young's Literal Translation
Better `is' the latter end of a thing than its beginning, Better `is' the patient of spirit, than the haughty of spirit.

New English Translation
The end of a matter¹ is better than its beginning; likewise, patience² is better than pride.³

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Ecclesiastes 7:9 >>