Proverbs 17:22
A mery heart make a lustie age: but a sorowfull minde dryeth vp the bones.
Bible (Bishops')
In The King James Version
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
In Context
21He that begetteth a foole, begetteth his sorowe: and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.
23The vngodly taketh gyftes out of the bosome, to wrest the wayes of iudgement.
Cross References
Proverbs 15:13A mery heart maketh a chearfull countenaunce: but by the sorowe of the heart the mynde is heauy.
Ecclesiastes 2:2Insomuch that I saide vnto the man geuen to laughter, thou art mad: and to mirth, what doest thou?
Romans 5:2By whom also we haue had an entrauce by fayth, vnto this grace wherin we stande, and reioyce in hope of the glorie of God.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 17:22
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. This expresses that very emphatically which many wise and good men feel very sensibly, what a grievous vexatious thing it is to have a foolish wicked child. See here, 1. How uncertain all our creature-comforts are, so that we are often not only disappointed in them, but that proves the greatest cross in which we promised ourselves most satisfaction. There was joy when a man-child was born into the world, and yet, if he prove… Read the whole commentary →