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“The end of a thing is better than its beginning;
the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry,
for anger rests in the bosom of fools.”
— Ecclesiastes 7:8–9 (NKJV)
We begin not with our ideas or feelings, but with the Word of God. Here we have a statement that cuts across much of our natural thinking:
> “The end of a thing is better than its beginning.”
Most people are impressed with beginnings. We like first impressions, first experiences, first breakthroughs. Yet God says something very different: He evaluates a thing by how it ends, not by how it starts.
In the same breath, the Holy Spirit addresses the inward condition of the heart: patience versus pride, and the danger of anger. These are not separate topics. They are closely bound together. How you end will depend greatly on whether you cultivate patience or pride, and whether you rule your spirit or surrender it to anger.
The lyrics you provided follow the Scripture almost verbatim. That is powerful. You are literally singing the Word of God. When rightly understood, these verses become a roadmap for:
Let us see what the Word of God says, in its context and depth.
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Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. The traditional understanding is that Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, is the author, writing from a standpoint of great experience, both good and bad.
Solomon began well. God appeared to him. He was endowed with supernatural wisdom (1 Kings 3:5–12). His early reign was marked by peace, prosperity, and the building of the temple. If ever there was a spectacular beginning, it was Solomon’s.
Yet the same Solomon turned aside later in life:
> “For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.”
> — 1 Kings 11:4
His story is a living commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:8: the end of a thing is better than its beginning. Solomon had a brilliant beginning, but his end was marred by compromise and idolatry. Out of that tension, Ecclesiastes speaks with sobering reality about life “under the sun” — life lived from a human perspective, confronted with vanity, frustration, and the limits of human wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 7 is a chapter of comparisons: “better than…” statements. It contrasts wisdom and folly, mourning and feasting, patience and pride. In verses 8–9, Solomon is exposing the inner posture that determines whether a life, a project, or a calling will end well.
Imagine Solomon in his later years, looking back over:
From that place, he says, by the Spirit of God:
“The end of a thing is better than its beginning… the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit… do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry.”
This is not theory. This is a man who knows what it is to begin magnificently and yet violate the very principles he now teaches. His failures make these words heavier, not lighter.
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To grasp the depth of this passage, we examine two key terms in the Hebrew text: “patient in spirit” and “angry.”
### 3.1 “Patient in spirit” — אֶרֶךְ רוּחַ (’erekh ruach)
The phrase ’erekh ruach parallels a well-known description of God:
“slow to anger” — אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם (’erekh appayim) in Exodus 34:6.
’Erekh means “long,” as opposed to “short.” Ruach means “spirit, breath, wind.” So “patient in spirit” means:
Patience here is not passive resignation; it is the stable, stretched capacity of the inner man to remain steady under pressure.
When the song repeats, “The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit,” it is declaring:
### 3.2 “To be angry” — כַּעַס (ka‘as)
Ecclesiastes 7:9 uses a related form to speak of “anger” that “rests in the bosom of fools.” The word can carry the idea of an irritability that does not just flash and disappear, but settles, feeding inner resentment.
Notice the structure:
The “bosom” in Hebrew thought is the inner place of affection and attachment. What you hold close to your bosom, you cherish, protect, and feed. When anger “rests” there, it becomes part of your identity and disposition.
The lyrics, by quoting this text, confront us with a choice:
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Let us now take the themes of the lyrics, phrase by phrase, and see what they unfold in light of the whole Bible.
### 4.1 “The end of a thing is better than its beginning.”
Scripture reveals a consistent pattern: God evaluates by the end, not the start.
“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)
Salvation is not merely about a decision at the beginning, but endurance to the end.
“I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Paul is not boasting of a great beginning, but of a faithful completion.
Jesus repeatedly evaluates their works, their perseverance, their repentance or lack of it — over time. To those who “overcome” (Revelation 2–3), He gives promise. Overcoming is not instant; it is an end-result of sustained faithfulness.
From God’s perspective:
This challenges several false mindsets:
1. The idol of “impressive beginnings.”
In ministry, relationships, business, or spiritual life, we often idolize early success. Yet many spiritual “meteors” burn bright briefly and then vanish. God prefers a steady star that endures.
2. Despair over weak beginnings.
Some believers are tormented by their past: sinful beginnings, broken starts, failures. But Scripture says: “Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly” (Job 8:7). God specializes in redemptive endings.
3. Neglect of long-term obedience.
A strong beginning cannot compensate for a careless middle or a compromised end. David began as a man after God’s own heart and finished still clinging to God, despite sin and failure. Solomon began in glory but ended in divided loyalty. Which life does Scripture commend? David’s.
In spiritual warfare, the enemy aims not only to stop you starting, but to prevent you finishing. He will tolerate your emotional beginning if he can derail your consistent ending. These verses call you to become an “end-focused” believer.
### 4.2 “The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
Here the Holy Spirit contrasts two inner dispositions:
Pride is the root of much spiritual failure.
“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty” (Ezekiel 28:17).
Pride was the inward movement that produced outward rebellion.
The essence of the first sin was man wanting to be “like God” on his own terms (Genesis 3:5). Pride seeks independence from God.
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5)
Pride is not merely wrong; it draws God’s active resistance. Patience in spirit, however, aligns you with God’s nature:
Notice “better than” language. God measures spiritual quality not by gifts, charisma, or apparent success, but by internal virtues. In His sight:
The proud in spirit will often:
The patient in spirit:
Hebrews 6:12 tells us:
“…imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Faith without patience tends to become presumption. Patience without faith tends to become mere passivity. But faith and patience together produce inheritance. The song, by repetition, is training your spirit to prefer patience over pride.
### 4.3 “Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry…”
Here the focus turns to anger. Scripture never denies the reality of anger, but it consistently warns against its misuse.
Observe the word “hasty.” Anger becomes dangerous when it is:
Proverbs 14:29 echoes Ecclesiastes 7:
“He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,
But he who is impulsive exalts folly.”
When you are “hasty in spirit to be angry,” you are exalting folly, not wisdom. It is a spiritual issue, not just a personality issue.
Anger in itself is not always sinful. God can be angry (Psalm 7:11). Jesus expressed righteous anger in the temple (John 2:13–17; Mark 3:5). The difference is:
The enemy often uses anger as:
When the lyrics exhort, “Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry,” you are singing a spiritual safeguard. You are reminding your inner man:
### 4.4 “…for anger rests in the bosom of fools.”
This is a devastating statement. Note three elements:
1. “Anger rests”
It does not merely appear and disappear; it settles in, abides, dwells. When anger becomes your frequent or default state, it has taken rest in you.
2. “In the bosom”
The bosom represents the place of closeness, affection, and identity. John leaned on Jesus’ bosom (John 13:23). What rests in your bosom is what you hold near your heart.
3. “Of fools”
In wisdom literature, a “fool” is not simply unintelligent. A fool is one who:
So the verse is saying:
Contrast this with the New Testament:
In spiritual warfare, unresolved anger becomes a legal ground for the enemy. Demons of rage, bitterness, and resentment find “rest” in such a heart. But God is looking for people in whom His Spirit can rest (Isaiah 11:2). You cannot be a resting place for both anger and the Holy Spirit in the same way.
By singing these words repeatedly, you are:
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Truth in Scripture is always given to be obeyed. Let us make this intensely practical. How do we move from merely knowing these verses to living them?
### Step 1: Align Your Perspective with God’s “End-Focused” View
First, we must repent of evaluating life by beginnings rather than endings.
A practical proclamation you can make:
> “I choose to live for a faithful end, not for a flashy beginning. With God’s grace, I will endure to the end.”
### Step 2: Cultivate a “Patient in Spirit” Lifestyle
Second, we must deliberately cultivate a long, steady spirit.
Feed your spirit with Scriptures on patience:
Make it a habit to declare:
> “In Christ, I am long in spirit, not short. I endure. I wait on God. I refuse to be driven by pride or pressure.”
### Step 3: Renounce Pride and Embrace Humility
Third, we must identify and reject pride in spirit.
A faith declaration:
> “I renounce pride in my spirit. I humble myself under God’s mighty hand. I receive grace, not resistance, from God.”
### Step 4: Deal Radically with Anger
Fourth, we must refuse to let anger take up residence in our bosom.
“Lord, I repent for hosting anger. I renounce the spirit of anger, rage, bitterness, and resentment. I command every unclean spirit connected with anger to leave me in Jesus’ name.”
Memorize and wield James 1:19–20 as a spiritual weapon:
> “I am swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
By repeated confession and obedience, you change the atmosphere of your bosom from anger to peace.
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### Proclamation (Confession of Faith)
Say this aloud, thoughtfully and firmly:
> “The Word of God says:
> ‘The end of a thing is better than its beginning,
> and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
> Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry,
> for anger rests in the bosom of fools.’
>
> In the name of Jesus, I agree with the Word of God.
> I choose to live for a faithful end, not for an impressive beginning.
> By the grace of God, I will endure to the end and keep the faith.
>
> I choose to be patient in spirit and I renounce pride in my spirit.
> I humble myself under God’s mighty hand.
> I receive His grace to wait, to endure, and to obey.
>
> I refuse to be hasty in my spirit to be angry.
> I repent for giving anger a place in my heart.
> I declare that anger will not rest in my bosom.
> My bosom is a resting place for the Holy Spirit, not for anger, rage, or bitterness.
>
> The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
> kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control—
> is being formed in me.
> I will finish my course with joy.
> The end that God has ordained for me is better than my beginning.
> In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
### Prayer
“Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You under the authority of Your Word.
You have said that the end of a thing is better than its beginning. I bring before You my life, my walk with You, my calling, my relationships, my work. I ask You to shape them not according to human expectations, but according to Your purpose for a good and faithful end.
Lord, where I have been proud in spirit, forgive me. I renounce every attitude of self-reliance, self-exaltation, and independence from You. Work in me the meekness and lowliness of Christ. Give me a patient spirit, long and steady, able to endure pressure without breaking, able to wait for Your perfect timing.
Holy Spirit, shine Your light on every place where anger has found rest in my bosom. I repent for holding on to anger, resentment, and offense. I choose to forgive those who have wronged me. I release them to You. I ask You to cleanse my inner being from bitterness and rage.
In the name of Jesus, I break every hold of anger, wrath, and unforgiveness over my life. I command every unclean spirit connected with these things to leave me now, and not return, in the authority of the name of Jesus.
Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit. Let Your peace rule in my heart. Teach me to be slow to anger, quick to listen, and ready to obey. Strengthen me to endure, that I may finish my race and keep the faith, and that the end of my life, and every work You have given me, may be better than the beginning.
I thank You for it, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
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