Proverbs 17:22
A rejoicing heart does good to the body, || And a struck spirit dries the bone.
Literal Standard Version
In The King James Version
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
In Context
21Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, || Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.
23The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, || To turn aside the paths of judgment.
Cross References
Psalms 22:15My power is dried up as an earthen vessel, || And My tongue is cleaving to My jaws.
Psalms 102:3For my days have been consumed in smoke, || And my bones have burned as a firebrand.
Proverbs 15:13A joyful heart makes the face glad, || And the spirit is struck by grief of heart.
Ecclesiastes 2:2Of laughter I said, “Foolish!” And of mirth, “What [is] this it is doing?”
Romans 5:2through whom also we have the access by faith into this grace in which we have stood, and we boast on the hope of the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 7:10for sorrow toward God works conversion to salvation without regret, and the sorrow of the world works 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 →