New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 7:3
3Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.
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 Living Translation (NLT)Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.
Context of Ecclesiastes 7:3
1A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one’s birth; 2Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. 4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools.
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 I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.
- Psalms 126:5Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.
- Jeremiah 31:8Behold, I will bring them from the north country, And gather them from the ends of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child And the one who labors with child, together; A great throng shall return there.
- Jeremiah 50:4“In those days and in that time,” says the Lord, “The children of Israel shall come, They and the children of Judah together; With continual weeping they shall come, And seek the Lord their God.
- Daniel 9:3Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
- Daniel 10:2In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.
- Zechariah 12:10“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
- Luke 6:21Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
- John 16:20Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
- 2 Corinthians 7:9Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
- James 4:8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Romans 5:3And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
- 2 Corinthians 4:17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
- Hebrews 12:10For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
- James 1:2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries