governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.

For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

A Song of Ascents.
When the Lord

brought back the captive ones of Zion,

We were like those who dream.

Therefore in that day the Lord God of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing,
To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth.

And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.

A time to laugh

Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.”

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

To dance

Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with

dancing.

Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

General references

“Therefore my harp is turned to mourning,
And my flute to the sound of those who weep.

‘For behold, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone.