Ecclesiastes 7:8

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

The end of a matter is better than its beginning; likewise, patience is better than pride.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 14:29 : 29 Someone with great understanding is slow to anger, but the one who has a quick temper exalts folly.
  • Heb 10:36 : 36 For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised.
  • Jas 5:8 : 8 You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near.
  • 1 Pet 1:13 : 13 Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
  • Luke 21:19 : 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
  • Rom 2:7-8 : 7 eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, 8 but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness.
  • Prov 16:32 : 32 Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city.
  • Prov 28:25 : 25 The greedy person stirs up dissension, but the one who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
  • Isa 10:24-25 : 24 So here is what the Sovereign LORD of Heaven’s Armies, says:“My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of Assyria, even though they beat you with a club and lift their cudgel against you as Egypt did. 25 For very soon my fury will subside, and my anger will be directed toward their destruction.”
  • Isa 10:28-34 : 28 They attacked Aiath, moved through Migron, depositing their supplies at Micmash. 29 They went through the pass, spent the night at Geba. Ramah trembled, Gibeah of Saul ran away. 30 Shout out, daughter of Gallim! Pay attention, Laishah! Answer her, Anathoth! 31 Madmenah flees, the residents of Gebim have hidden. 32 This very day, standing in Nob, they shake their fist at Daughter Zion’s mountain– at the hill of Jerusalem. 33 Look, the Sovereign LORD of Heaven’s Armies, is ready to cut off the branches with terrifying power. The tallest trees will be cut down, the loftiest ones will be brought low. 34 The thickets of the forest will be chopped down with an ax, and mighty Lebanon will fall.
  • Luke 16:25 : 25 But Abraham said,‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish.
  • Prov 15:18 : 18 A quick-tempered person stirs up dissension, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.
  • Ps 126:5-6 : 5 Those who shed tears as they plant will shout for joy when they reap the harvest. 6 The one who weeps as he walks along, carrying his bag of seed, will certainly come in with a shout of joy, carrying his sheaves of grain.
  • Prov 13:10 : 10 With pride comes only contention, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
  • Gal 5:22 : 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
  • Eph 4:2 : 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, putting up with one another in love,
  • 1 Pet 2:20-21 : 20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God. 21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.
  • 1 Pet 5:5-6 : 5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 6 And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand
  • Jas 5:11 : 11 Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 7:9-11
    3 verses
    77%

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

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

    11Wisdom Can Lengthen One’s Life Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.

  • Prov 14:29
    73%

    29Someone with great understanding is slow to anger, but the one who has a quick temper exalts folly.

  • Eccl 7:1-5
    5 verses
    73%

    1Life is Brief and Death is Certain! A good reputation is better than precious perfume; likewise, the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.

    2It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.

    3Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart.

    4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.

    5Frivolous Living Versus Wisdom It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools.

  • Prov 16:32
    72%

    32Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city.

  • Prov 16:18-19
    2 verses
    72%

    18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

    19It is better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted than to share the spoils with the proud.

  • Eccl 7:13-15
    3 verses
    70%

    13Wisdom Acknowledges God’s Orchestration of Life Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent?

    14In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.

    15Exceptions to the Law of Retribution During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

  • Eccl 4:6
    69%

    6Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind.

  • Eccl 7:7
    69%

    7Human Wisdom Overturned by Adversity Surely oppression can turn a wise person into a fool; likewise, a bribe corrupts the heart.

  • Eccl 6:9
    69%

    9It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one’s heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile– like chasing the wind.

  • Eccl 4:3
    68%

    3But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

  • Prov 19:1
    68%

    1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.

  • Prov 15:16
    68%

    16Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth and turmoil with it.

  • Prov 16:8
    68%

    8Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice.

  • Prov 20:21
    67%

    21An inheritance gained easily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

  • Jas 5:11
    67%

    11Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

  • Job 8:7
    67%

    7Your beginning will seem so small, since your future will flourish.

  • Prov 17:27
    67%

    27The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning.

  • Prov 14:13
    67%

    13Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.

  • Eccl 10:13
    66%

    13At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness,

  • Prov 18:14
    66%

    14A person’s spirit sustains him through sickness– but who can bear a crushed spirit?

  • Eccl 4:16
    66%

    16There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.

  • Ps 37:7-8
    2 verses
    66%

    7Wait patiently for the LORD! Wait confidently for him! Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, a man who carries out wicked schemes!

    8Do not be angry and frustrated! Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!

  • Eccl 4:13
    66%

    13Labor Motivated by Prestige-Seeking A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.

  • Prov 25:7-8
    2 verses
    66%

    7for it is better for him to say to you,“Come up here,” than to put you lower before a prince, whom your eyes have seen.

    8Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame?

  • Jas 1:3-4
    2 verses
    66%

    3because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

    4And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.

  • Ps 118:8
    66%

    8It is better to take shelter in the LORD than to trust in people.

  • Prov 14:17
    66%

    17A person who has a quick temper will do foolish things, and a person with crafty schemes will be hated.

  • 1 Pet 4:7
    66%

    7Service, Suffering, and Judgment For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.

  • Prov 28:6
    66%

    6A poor person who walks in his integrity is better than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich.

  • Prov 19:20
    66%

    20Listen to advice and receive discipline, that you may become wise by the end of your life.

  • Ps 37:16
    66%

    16The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men,

  • Prov 18:12
    65%

    12Before destruction the heart of a person is proud, but humility comes before honor.

  • Prov 13:10
    65%

    10With pride comes only contention, but wisdom is with the well-advised.

  • Eccl 9:17
    65%

    17Wisdom versus Fools, Sin, and Folly The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among fools.

  • Prov 17:1
    65%

    1Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

  • Prov 17:22
    65%

    22A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

  • Eccl 10:4
    65%

    4If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses.

  • Eccl 7:18
    65%

    18It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.