Proverbs 15 · Verse 13

Proverbs 15:13

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 15:13, King James Version

Proverbs 15:13 in other translations

BSBA joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
WEBA glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
ASVA glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
YLTA joyful heart maketh glad the face, And by grief of heart is the spirit smitten.
DARBYA joyful heart maketh a cheerful countenance; but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
BBEA glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
WebsterA merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

What does Proverbs 15:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. maketh ... countenance--or, "benefits the countenance." spirit is broken--and so the countenance is sad.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 By sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken - Every kind of sorrow worketh death, but that which is the offspring of true repentance. This alone is healthful to the soul. The indulgence of a disposition to sighing tends to destroy life. Every deep sigh throws off a portion of the vital energy.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
A gloomy, impatient, unthankful spirit, springing from pride and undue attachment to worldly objects, renders a man uneasy to himself and others.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 15:13 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.

לֵ֣בleva heartH3820
שָׂ֭מֵחַSa.me.achjoyfulH8056
יֵיטִ֣בyei.Tivit makes goodH3190
פָּנִ֑יםpa.Nima faceH6440
וּבְעַצְּבַת\־u.ve.'a.tze.vat-and by sorrow ofH6094
לֵ֝בlevheartH3820
ר֣וּחַRu.acha spiritH7307
נְכֵאָֽה\׃ne.khe.'Ah[is] strickenH5218

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

Cross references for Proverbs 15:13

  • Proverbs 17:22

    A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

  • John 14:1

    Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

  • Proverbs 12:25

    Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

  • Proverbs 18:14

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

  • Proverbs 15:15

    All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:10

    For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

  • 2 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.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:12

    For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

  • Nehemiah 2:2

    Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
merry.
15; 17:22; 2Co 1:12
by.
12:25; 18:14; Ne 2:2; Joh 14:1; 2Co 2:7; 7:10

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

Context

  • Proverbs 15:12

    A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

  • Proverbs 15:13

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

  • Proverbs 15:14

    The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

Read all of Proverbs 15

Proverbs 15:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El corazón alegre hermosea el rostro: mas por el dolor de corazón el espíritu se abate.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le cœur joyeux égaie le visage, mais par le chagrin du cœur l’esprit est abattu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ein frohes Herz erheitert das Antlitz; aber bei Kummer des Herzens ist der Geist zerschlagen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cor gaudens exhilarat faciem; in mœrore animi dejicitur spiritus.