Proverbs 17:22
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
- KJV
- A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
- WEB
- A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
- ASV
- A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
- DARBY
- A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
- BLB
- A joyful heart is good healing, and a spirit stricken dries up the bones.
- ÅB
- Et glad hjerte gir god legedom, men et nedslått mot tar margen fra benene.
- OTB
- Et muntert hjerte er god medisin, men en brutt ånd tørker opp benene.
- B1930
- Et glad hjerte gir god lægedom, men et nedslått mot tar margen fra benene.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 15:13
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Read in contextProverbs 12:25
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
Read in contextProverbs 18:14
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
Read in context2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 9:7–9
Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
Read in contextRomans 5:2–5
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Read in context2 Corinthians 2:7
So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Read in contextPsalms 102:3–5
For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
Read in context