Parallel Verses

New American Standard Bible

Sorrow is better than laughter,
For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.

King James Version

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Holman Bible

Grief is better than laughter,
for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad.

International Standard Version

Sorrow is better than laughter, because the heart is made better through trouble.

A Conservative Version

Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.

American Standard Version

Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.

Amplified


Sorrow is better than laughter,
For when a face is sad (deep in thought) the heart may be happy [because it is growing in wisdom].

Bible in Basic English

Sorrow is better than joy; when the face is sad the mind gets better.

Darby Translation

Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Julia Smith Translation

Good is grief above laughter: for in the illness of the face the heart shall be good.

King James 2000

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Lexham Expanded Bible

Sorrow [is] better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made good.

Modern King James verseion

Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made better.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

It is better to be sorry than to laugh, for when the countenance is heavy the heart is joyful.

NET Bible

Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart.

New Heart English Bible

Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

The Emphasized Bible

Better is grief than laughter, - for, by the marring of the face, amended is the heart.

Webster

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

World English Bible

Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

Youngs Literal Translation

Better is sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the face the heart becometh better.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
כּעשׂ כּעס 
Ka`ac 
Usage: 25

שׂחק שׂחוק 
S@chowq 
Usage: 15

for by the sadness
רע 
Roa` 
Usage: 19

of the countenance
פּנים 
Paniym 
Usage: 2119

References

Verse Info

Context Readings

People Generally Do Not Know What Is Best For Them

2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
Than to go to a house of feasting,
Because that is the end of every man,
And the living takes it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.
4 The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,
While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.


Cross References

2 Corinthians 7:9-11

I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.

Psalm 119:67

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.

Psalm 119:71

It is good for me that I was afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

Psalm 126:5-6

Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.

Jeremiah 31:8-9

“Behold, I am bringing them from the north country,
And I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth,
Among them the blind and the lame,
The woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together;
A great company, they will return here.

Jeremiah 31:15-20

Thus says the Lord,
A voice is heard in Ramah,
Lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
She refuses to be comforted for her children,
Because they are no more.”

Jeremiah 50:4-5

“In those days and at that time,” declares the Lord, “the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be the Lord their God they will seek.

Daniel 9:3-19

So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.

Daniel 10:2-3

In those days, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks.

Daniel 10:19

He said, “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

Zechariah 12:10-14

“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.

Luke 6:21

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

Luke 6:25

Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

John 16:20-22

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.

Romans 5:3-4

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

2 Corinthians 4:17

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

Hebrews 12:10-11

For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

James 1:2-4

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

James 4:8-10

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain