'Merry' in the Bible

And bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let us [invite everyone and] feast and celebrate;

for this son of mine was [as good as] dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.’ So they began to celebrate.

But he said to his father, ‘Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never neglected or disobeyed your command. Yet you have never given me [so much as] a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;

But it was fitting to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was [as good as] dead and has begun to live. He was lost and has been found.’”

“Now there was a certain rich man who was habitually dressed in expensive purple and fine linen, and celebrated and lived joyously in splendor every day.

In those days they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced and celebrated over the works of their hands.