Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
World English Bible British
In The King James Version
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
In Context
21He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
23A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
Cross References
Psalms 22:15My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death.
Psalms 102:3For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burnt as a torch.
Proverbs 15:13A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
Ecclesiastes 2:2I said of laughter, “It is foolishness;” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
Romans 5:2through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 7:10For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces 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 →