Proverbs 17:22

In 11 translations

BSB

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

KJV

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.like: or, to

WEB

A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

ASV

A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

LSV

A rejoicing heart does good to the body, || And a struck spirit dries the bone.

YLT

A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.

DBY

A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

DRC

A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.

GNV

A ioyfull heart causeth good health: but a sorowfull minde dryeth the bones.

JPS

A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

LXXE

A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.

Word by word Hebrew · tap a word

Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.

Original-language editions

WLC

לֵ֣ב שָׂ֭מֵחַ יֵיטִ֣ב גֵּהָ֑ה וְר֥וּחַ נְ֝כֵאָ֗ה תְּיַבֶּשׁ־גָּֽרֶם׃

LXX-Br

Καρδία εὐφραινομένη εὐεκτεῖν ποιεῖ, ἀνδρὸς δὲ λυπηροῦ ξηραίνεται τὰ ὀστᾶ.

In the reference works topics that cite this verse

From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).

Cross-references most cited first

• Proverbs 15:13A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
• Proverbs 12:25Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.
• Proverbs 18:14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
• 2 Corinthians 7:10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
• Ecclesiastes 9:7–9Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works: Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head. Enjoy life with your beloved…
• Romans 5:2–5through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering…
• 2 Corinthians 2:7So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
• Psalms 102:3–5For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers. My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread. Through my loud groaning my flesh clings to my bones.
• Psalms 32:3–4When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the summer heat. Selah
• Psalms 22:15My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death.

From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).