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Ecclesiastes 7:8-10
New English Translation
Ecclesiastes 7:8-10
New English Translation
8 The end of a matter[a] is better than its beginning;
likewise, patience[b] is better than pride.[c]
9 Do not let yourself be quickly provoked,[d]
for anger resides in the lap[e] of fools.
10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?”[f]
for it is not wise to ask that.[g]
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:8 tn The term דָבָר (davar) denotes “matter; thing” here rather than “speech; word,” as the parallelism with “patience” suggests. The term was misunderstood as “speech; word” by the Vulgate (so also Douay).
- Ecclesiastes 7:8 tn Heb “the patient of spirit.”
- Ecclesiastes 7:8 tn Heb “the proud of spirit.”
- Ecclesiastes 7:9 tn Heb “Do not be hasty in your spirit to become angry.”
- Ecclesiastes 7:9 tn Heb “bosom.”
- Ecclesiastes 7:10 tn Heb “these.” “Days” does not appear in the Hebrew text as second time, but is supplied in the translation for smoothness.
- Ecclesiastes 7:10 tn Heb “It is not from wisdom that you ask about this.”
Ecclesiastes 7:8-10
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 7:8-10
New International Version
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience(A) is better than pride.
9 Do not be quickly provoked(B) in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.(C)
10 Do not say, “Why were the old days(D) better than these?”
For it is not wise to ask such questions.
New English Translation (NET)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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