God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 15:13
13A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but with a heartache comes depression.
Proverbs 15:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
- New International Version (NIV)A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
- English Standard Version (ESV)A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Context of Proverbs 15:13
11If Sheol and Abaddon lie open in front of the Lord how much more the human heart! 12A mocker does not appreciate a warning. He will not go to wise people. A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but with a heartache comes depression. 14The mind of a person who has understanding searches for knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on stupidity. 15Every day is a terrible day for a miserable person, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
Read all of Proverbs 15Proverbs 15:13 word by word
לֵ֣ב שָׂ֭מֵחַ יֵיטִ֣ב פָּנִ֑ים וּבְעַצְּבַת־לֵ֝ב ר֣וּחַ נְכֵאָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 15:13
- Proverbs 15:15Every day is a terrible day for a miserable person, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
- Proverbs 17:22A joyful heart is good medicine, but depression drains one’s strength.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12We are proud that our conscience is clear. We are proud of the way that we have lived in this world. We have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity, especially toward you. It was not by human wisdom that we have lived but by God’s kindness.
- Proverbs 12:25A person’s anxiety will weigh him down, but an encouraging word makes him joyful.
- Proverbs 18:14A person’s spirit can endure sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?
- Nehemiah 2:2The king asked me, “Why do you look so sad? You aren’t sick, are you? You must be troubled about something.” (I was really afraid).
- John 14:1“Don’t be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me.
- 2 Corinthians 7:10In fact, to be distressed in a godly way causes people to change the way they think and act and leads them to be saved. No one can regret that. But the distress that the world causes brings only death.
Commentaries on Proverbs 15:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13By 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.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Some prefer to render the last clause, “In sorrow of heart the breath is oppressed.”Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13Verse 13 A gloomy, impatient, unthankful spirit, springing from pride and undue attachment to worldly objects, renders a man uneasy to himself and others.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13People's feelings influence how they present themselves (compare Proverbs 15:30).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. maketh ... countenance--or, "benefits the countenance." spirit is broken--and so the countenance is sad.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 15:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 15
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries