Ecclesiastes 7:8

“Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof, etc.] 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, (<200504>Proverbs 5:4 16:25); and so the end of carnal professors and apostates, who begin in the Spirit, and end in the flesh, (<480303>Galatians 3:3 <610220>2 Peter 2:20,21); 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, (<180807>Job 8:7 42:12); see (<193737>Psalm 37:37 <401022>Matthew 10:22 <421625>Luke 16:25); [and] the patient in spirit [is] better…”

“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).”

“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. return to 'Top of Page'”

“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. Ecclesiastes 7:10”

“7:8 Finishing a project by exercising patience is better than starting a project with the pride of boastful words.”

“Better: Psa 126:5, Psa 126:6; Isa 10:24, Isa 10:25, Isa 10:28-34; Luk 16:25; Jam 5:11; Pe1 1:13 the patient: Pro 13:10, Pro 14:29, Pro 15:18, Pro 16:32, Pro 28:25; Luk 21:19; Rom 2:7, Rom 2:8; Heb 10:36; Jam 5:8; Pe1 2:20, Pe1 2:21, Pe1 5:5, Pe1 5:6 Ecclesiastes 7:9”

“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…”