EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Ecclesiastes 7:3
3If you are sad, that is better for you than to laugh all the time. We learn more about ourselves when we are sad.
Ecclesiastes 7:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
- New International Version (NIV)Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.
Context of Ecclesiastes 7:3
1If people respect you as a good person, that is better than expensive perfume. The day of your death is better than the day of your birth. 2If you go to a house where there is a funeral, that is better for you than to go to a party. Everyone will die one day. People should think about death while they are still alive. If you are sad, that is better for you than to laugh all the time. We learn more about ourselves when we are sad. 4A wise person thinks about funerals and what they mean. A foolish person thinks about how to enjoy a party. 5If a wise person warns you, listen to him. That is better for you than to listen to the songs of a foolish person.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 7Ecclesiastes 7:3 word by word
ט֥וֹב כַּ֖עַס מִשְּׂחֹ֑ק כִּֽי־בְרֹ֥עַ פָּנִ֖ים יִ֥יטַב לֵֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:3
- Psalms 119:67Before you showed me what was right, I made mistakes, but now I obey your teaching.
- Psalms 126:5When people went out to plant their seeds, they were crying. But they will be happy when they bring in the harvest!
- Jeremiah 31:8See what I will do! I will bring them back from the land in the north. Wherever they are, I will bring them back. A great crowd of my people will return. Blind people will be among them, and people who cannot walk well. There will be pregnant women and some who will very soon give birth.
- Jeremiah 50:4The Lord says, ‘When that happens, the people of Israel and Judah will return to their land. They will weep because of their sins. They will want to worship the Lord their God.
- Daniel 9:3So I turned to my Lord God, to ask him for help. I prayed to him and I ate no food. I wore clothes of rough sackcloth. I put ashes on myself to show that I was upset.
- Daniel 10:2At that time I, Daniel, was very sad for three weeks.
- Zechariah 12:10I will cause the family of David and the people in Jerusalem to think seriously about me. Then they will know that I am kind to them. And they will want to pray to me. They will look at me whom they pierced (made holes in). They will weep about him as those that weep after the death of their only son. They will cry aloud as if their only son was dead.
- Luke 6:21Happy are you people that are hungry now. God will feed you until you are full. Happy are you people that are crying now. Later, you will laugh.
- John 16:20I tell you this: You will be sad and you will cry. But the people who belong to this world will be happy. Yes, you will be sad. But soon after that, you will become happy instead.
- 2 Corinthians 7:9So now I am happy, but not because my letter made you sad. No, I am happy because it made you turn away from wrong things. You became sad as God wanted you to be sad. So, when the letter made you sad, we did not really hurt you.
- James 4:8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Be clean in the way that you live. Stop doing wrong things. Make your minds clean. You cannot love sin and love God at the same time.
- Romans 5:3We are happy even when we have troubles and pain. That is because we know that those troubles help us to become patient and strong.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17We have these little troubles that continue for a short time. But as a result, we will receive the great things that God has prepared for us. Those great things are much more important than our little troubles. And God's great things will continue for ever!
- Hebrews 12:10Our human fathers punished us for a few years. They did this in a way that they thought was good. But God punishes us in a way that will really help us. As a result, we can become completely good, like he is.
- James 1:2My Christian friends, remember to be happy, even when many kinds of trouble happen to you. Troubles can help you.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Sorrow is better than laughter - The reason is immediately given; for by the sorrow of the countenance - the grief of heart that shows itself in the countenance: - The heart is made better - In such cases, most men try themselves at the tribunal of their own consciences, and resolve on amendment of life.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Sorrow - Rather, Seriousness. The heart is made better - i. e., is made bright and joyful (compare 2 Corinthians 6:10). The mind which bears itself equally in human concerns, whether they be pleasant or sorrowful, must always be glad, free, and at peace.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4good for the heart: Thinking clearly about death helps us understand the seriousness of God's curse on sin and shows us the importance of enjoying life wisely (Ecclesiastes 9:10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Sorrow--such as arises from serious thoughts of eternity. laughter--reckless mirth (Ec 2:2). by the sadness ... better--(Psa 126:5, 6; 2Co 4:17; He 12:10, 11). Maurer translates: "In sadness of countenance there is (may be) a good (cheerful) heart." So Hebrew, for "good," equivalent to "cheerful" (Ec 11:9); but the parallel clause supports English Version.Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
EasyEnglish Bible 2018 — Copyright © MissionAssist 2018
Commentaries