King James Version

Ecclesiastes 7:8

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

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Hebrew

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ט֛וֹבtovgoodטוֹבadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “good”, the ordinary formH2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant,…אַחֲרִ֥יתacharitendאַחֲרִיתnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “end”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH319the last or end, hence, the future; also posterity(last, latter) end (time), hinder (utter) -most, length, posterity, remnant, residue, reward.דָּבָ֖רdavarcauseדָּבָרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “cause”, the ordinary formH1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a causeact, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dea…מֵֽרֵאשִׁית֑וֹmereshitvofrom firstרֵאשִׁיתpreposition, noun, common, feminine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “from first”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7225the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit)beginning, chief(-est), first(-fruits, part, time), principal thing.ט֥וֹבtovgoodטוֹבadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “good”, the ordinary formH2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant,…אֶֽרֶךְerekhlongאָרֵךְadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, construct — “long”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH750longlong(-suffering, -winged), patient, slow (to anger).ר֖וּחַruchaangerרוּחַnoun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “anger”, the ordinary formH7307wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).מִגְּבַהּmigvahfrom highגָּבָהּpreposition, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, construct — “from high”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1362lofty (literally or figuratively)high, proud.רֽוּחַruchaangerרוּחַnoun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “anger”, the ordinary formH7307wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; 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.

World English Bible

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Darby Translation

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

Douay-Rheims

Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἀγαθὴ ἐσχάτη λόγων ὑπὲρ ἀρχὴν αὐτοῦ, ἀγαθὸν μακρόθυμος ὑπὲρ ὑψηλὸν πνεύματι.

American Standard Version (1901)

Young’s Literal Translation

World English Bible

Darby Translation

Douay-Rheims

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

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