Parallel Verses

King James 2000

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

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.

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 the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.


Cross References

2 Corinthians 7:9-11

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance: for you were made sorry after a godly manner, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing.

Psalm 119:67

Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept your word.

Psalm 119:71

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn your statutes.

Psalm 126:5-6

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Jeremiah 31:8-9

Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travails with child together: a great company shall return there.

Jeremiah 31:15-20

Thus says the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

Jeremiah 50:4-5

In those days, and in that time, says the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.

Daniel 9:3-19

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

Daniel 10:2-3

In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

Daniel 10:19

And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto you, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me.

Zechariah 12:10-14

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Luke 6:21

Blessed are you that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are you that weep now: for you shall laugh.

Luke 6:25

Woe unto you that are full! for you shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for you shall mourn and weep.

John 16:20-22

Verily, verily, I say unto you, That you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

Romans 5:3-4

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience;

2 Corinthians 4:17

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Hebrews 12:10-11

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

James 1:2-4

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into 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