Proverbs 14 · Verse 10

Proverbs 14:10

The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
Proverbs 14:10, King James Version

Proverbs 14:10 in other translations

BSBThe heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.
WEBThe heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
ASVThe heart knoweth its own bitterness; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
YLTThe heart knoweth its own bitterness, And with its joy a stranger doth not intermeddle.
DARBYThe heart knoweth its own bitterness, and a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
BBENo one has knowledge of a man's grief but himself; and a strange person has no part in his joy.
WebsterThe heart knoweth its own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.

What does Proverbs 14:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. Each one best knows his own sorrows or joys.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness - מרת נפשו morrath naphsho, "The bitterness of its soul." Under spiritual sorrow, the heart feels, the soul feels; all the animal nature feels and suffers. But when the peace of God is spoken to the troubled soul, the joy is indescribable; the whole man partakes of it. And a stranger to these religious feelings, to the travail of the soul, and to the witness of the Spirit, does not intermeddle with them; he does not understand them: indeed they may be even foolishness to him, because they are spiritually discerned.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
We do not know what stings of conscience, or consuming passions, torment the prosperous sinner. Nor does the world know the peace of mind a serious Christian enjoys, even in poverty and sickness.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 14:10 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לֵ֗בLeva heartH3820
י֭וֹדֵעַYo.de.a'[is] knowingH3045
מָרַּ֣תma.Rat[the] bitterness ofH4787
נַפְשׁ֑וֹnaf.Shoown self itsH5315
וּ֝בְשִׂמְחָת֗וֹu.ve.sim.cha.Toand in joy itsH8057
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
יִתְעָ֥רַבyit.'A.ravhe sharesH6148
זָֽר\׃Zara strangerH2114

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 14:10

  • Philippians 4:7

    And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

  • Proverbs 18:14

    The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

  • John 14:18

    I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

  • Proverbs 15:13

    A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

  • Revelation 2:17

    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

  • Job 10:1

    My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

  • 1 Peter 1:8

    Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

  • Psalms 25:14

    The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

  • 1 Samuel 1:10

    And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.

  • John 12:27

    Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

  • Job 7:11

    Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

  • 2 Kings 4:27

    And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
heart.
15:13; 18:14; 1Sa 1:10; 2Ki 4:27; Job 6:2-4; 7:11; 9:18; 10:1
Eze 3:14; Mr 14:33,34; Joh 12:27
his, etc. Heb. the bitterness of his soul.
Ge 42:21
and.
Ps 25:14; Joh 14:18,23; Php 4:7; 1Pe 1:8; Re 2:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 14:9

    Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

  • Proverbs 14:10

    The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

  • Proverbs 14:11

    The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

Read all of Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El corazón conoce la amargura de su alma; y extraño no se entrometerá en su alegría.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le cœur connaît sa propre amertume, et un étranger ne se mêle pas à sa joie.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Das Herz kennt seine eigene Bitterkeit, und kein Fremder kann sich in seine Freude mischen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cor quod novit amaritudinem animæ suæ, in gaudio ejus non miscebitur extraneus.