New Living Translation
Ecclesiastes 7:3
3Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.
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
1A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born. 2Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. 4A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time. 5Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool.
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 119:67I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.
- Psalms 126:5Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
- Jeremiah 31:8For I will bring them from the north and from the distant corners of the earth. I will not forget the blind and lame, the expectant mothers and women in labor. A great company will return!
- Jeremiah 50:4“In those coming days,” says the Lord, “the people of Israel will return home together with the people of Judah. They will come weeping and seeking the Lord their God.
- Daniel 9:3So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.
- Daniel 10:2When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks.
- Zechariah 12:10“Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.
- Luke 6:21God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh.
- John 16:20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.
- 2 Corinthians 7:9Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way.
- James 4:8Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
- Romans 5:3We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
- Hebrews 12:10For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.
- James 1:2Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
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
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