Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priestly scribe, and the Levites who were imparting understanding to the people said to all of them, "This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the law.

For his anger lasts only a brief moment, and his good favor restores one's life. One may experience sorrow during the night, but joy arrives in the morning.

A song of ascents. When the Lord restored the well-being of Zion, we thought we were dreaming.

At that time the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, called for weeping and mourning, for shaved heads and sackcloth.

Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot mourn while the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast.

We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; we wailed in mourning, yet you did not weep.'

I tell you the solemn truth, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy.

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

For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.

Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair.

A time to laugh

Sarah said, "God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears about this will laugh with me."

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John.

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

To dance

Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a hand-drum in her hand, and all the women went out after her with hand-drums and with dances.

As the ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal looked out the window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him.

General references

My harp is used for mourning and my flute for the sound of weeping.

Look! The winter has passed, the winter rains are over and gone.