Parallel Verses
Julia Smith Translation
Good is grief above laughter: for in the illness of the face the heart shall be good.
New American Standard Bible
For
King James Version
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Holman Bible
for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad.
International Standard Version
Sorrow is better than laughter, because the heart is made better through trouble.
A Conservative Version
Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
American Standard Version
Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
Amplified
Sorrow is better than laughter,
For when a face is sad (deep in thought) the heart may be happy [because it is growing in wisdom].
Bible in Basic English
Sorrow is better than joy; when the face is sad the mind gets better.
Darby Translation
Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
King James 2000
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Lexham Expanded Bible
Sorrow [is] better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made good.
Modern King James verseion
Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made better.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
It is better to be sorry than to laugh, for when the countenance is heavy the heart is joyful.
NET Bible
Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart.
New Heart English Bible
Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.
The Emphasized Bible
Better is grief than laughter, - for, by the marring of the face, amended is the heart.
Webster
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
World English Bible
Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.
Youngs Literal Translation
Better is sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the face the heart becometh better.
Themes
Afflictions made beneficial » In purifying us
worldly Amusements and pleasures » Wisdom of abstaining from
Amusements and worldly pleasures » Wisdom of abstaining from
Topics
Interlinear
Ka`ac
Towb
S@chowq
Roa`
Paniym
Leb
References
Fausets
Hastings
Word Count of 20 Translations in Ecclesiastes 7:3
Verse Info
Context Readings
People Generally Do Not Know What Is Best For Them
2 Good to go to the house of mourning rather than to go to the house of drinking, in that it is the end of every man; and he living shall give to his heart. 3 Good is grief above laughter: for in the illness of the face the heart shall be good. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; and the heart of the foolish in the house of gladness.
Cross References
2 Corinthians 7:9-11
Now I rejoice, not that ye were grieved, but that ye were grieved to repentance: for ye were grieved according to God, that ye be injured in nothing by us.
Psalm 119:67
Before I shall be humbled I go astray: and now I watched thy word.
Psalm 119:71
Good for me that thou didst humble me, so that I shall learn thy laws.
Psalm 126:5-6
They sowing in tears shall reap in rejoicing.
Jeremiah 31:8-9
Behold me bringing them from the land of the north, and I gathered them from the thighs of the earth, with them the blind and the lame, her being Pregnant, and her bringing forth together: a great convocation shall turn back hither.
Jeremiah 31:15-20
Thus said Jehovah, A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping of bitterness; Rachel, weeping for her sons, refused to be comforted for her sons, for they are not
Jeremiah 50:4-5
In those days and in that time, says Jehovah, the sons of Israel shall come, they and the sons of Judah together, going, and they wept: they shall go and shall seek Jehovah their God.
Daniel 9:3-19
And I will give my face to Jehovah God to seek prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes:
Daniel 10:2-3
And in these days I Daniel was mourning three weeks of days.
Daniel 10:19
And he will say, Thou shalt not fear, O man of desires: peace to thee; be strong, and be strong. And in his speaking with me I was strengthened, and saying, My lord shall speak; for thou didst strengthen me.
Zechariah 12:10-14
And I poured out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplications: and they looked to me whom they pierced, and they mourned for him as mourning for the only begotten, and being embittered for him as being embittered for the first-born.
Luke 6:21
Happy the hungering now: for ye shall be satisfied. Happy the weeping now: for ye shall laugh.
Luke 6:25
Woe to you having been filled for ye shall hunger. Woe to you laughing now! for ye shall grieve and weep.
John 16:20-22
Truly, truly, I say to you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be grieved, but your grief shall be into joy.
Romans 5:3-4
And not only, but also we boast in affliction: knowing that affliction works perseverance;
2 Corinthians 4:17
For the present moment the lightness of our pressure works to us an eternal weight of glory, as eminence upon eminence;
Hebrews 12:10-11
For they truly for a few days, according as it seemed to them, corrected; but he for profit, in order to partake in his holiness.
James 1:2-4
Deem all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into various trials;
James 4:8-10
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse the hands, ye sinful; and purify the hearts, ye double souled.