Proverbs 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Berean Standard Bible
In The King James Version
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
In Context
21A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
23A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
Cross References
Psalms 22:15My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death.
Psalms 102:3For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
Proverbs 15:13A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
Ecclesiastes 2:2I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”
Romans 5:2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 7:10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
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 →