Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. New Living Translation Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. English Standard Version Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. Berean Standard Bible Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart. King James Bible Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. New King James Version Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. New American Standard Bible Sorrow is better than laughter, For when a face is sad a heart may be happy. NASB 1995 Sorrow is better than laughter, For when a face is sad a heart may be happy. NASB 1977 Sorrow is better than laughter, For when a face is sad a heart may be happy. Legacy Standard Bible Better is vexation than laughter, For when a face is sad a heart may be merry. Amplified Bible Sorrow is better than laughter, For when a face is sad (deep in thought) the heart may be happy [because it is growing in wisdom]. Christian Standard Bible Grief is better than laughter, for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad. Holman Christian Standard Bible Grief is better than laughter, for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad. American Standard Version Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad. Contemporary English Version Choose sorrow over laughter because a sad face may hide a happy heart. English Revised Version Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad. GOD'S WORD® Translation Sorrow is better than laughter because, in spite of a sad face, the heart can be joyful. Good News Translation Sorrow is better than laughter; it may sadden your face, but it sharpens your understanding. International Standard Version Sorrow is better than laughter, because the heart is made better through trouble. NET Bible Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart. New Heart English Bible Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good. Webster's Bible Translation Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart. World English Bible Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBetter [is] sorrow than laughter, "" For by the sadness of the face the heart becomes better. Young's Literal Translation Better is sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the face the heart becometh better. Smith's Literal Translation Good is grief above laughter: for in the illness of the face the heart shall be good. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Sorrow is better than laughter; when the face is sad, the heart grows wise. New Revised Standard Version Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Grief is better than laughter, because in the sadness of the face the heart will improve OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Vexation is better than laughter; For by the sadness of the countenance the heart may be gladdened. Brenton Septuagint Translation Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Value of Wisdom…2It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart. 3Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart. 4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.… Cross References Proverbs 14:13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow. 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Psalm 126:5-6 Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. / He who goes out weeping, bearing a trail of seed, will surely return with shouts of joy, carrying sheaves of grain. James 4:9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Isaiah 61:2-3 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, / to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. John 16:20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. Psalm 30:5 For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning. Romans 5:3-5 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; / perseverance, character; and character, hope. / And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Lamentations 3:32-33 Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion. / For He does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men. 1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials / so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. / For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it. Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Treasury of Scripture Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. sorrow is better Psalm 119:67,71 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word… Psalm 126:5,6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy… Jeremiah 31:8,9,15-20 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither… by Romans 5:3,4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; … 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; Hebrews 12:10,11 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness… Jump to Previous Better Countenance Face Gets Glad Gladdened Good Happy Heart Joy Laughter Mind Sad Sadness Sorrow VexationJump to Next Better Countenance Face Gets Glad Gladdened Good Happy Heart Joy Laughter Mind Sad Sadness Sorrow VexationEcclesiastes 7 1. remedies against vanity are, a good name2. mortification 7. patience 11. wisdom 23. The difficulty of wisdom Sorrow is better than laughter This phrase challenges the common human pursuit of happiness and pleasure, suggesting that sorrow has a deeper, more beneficial role in spiritual and personal growth. In the biblical context, the Preacher (traditionally understood as Solomon) emphasizes the vanity of earthly pleasures (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11). Sorrow, in this sense, can lead to introspection and a more profound understanding of life and one's relationship with God. The Bible often portrays sorrow as a catalyst for repentance and spiritual renewal, as seen in 2 Corinthians 7:10, where godly sorrow leads to repentance. for a sad countenance is good for the heart Persons / Places / Events 1. Solomon- Traditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was the king of Israel known for his wisdom, wealth, and writings. Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom literature attributed to him. 2. Jerusalem - The central place of worship and the capital of Israel during Solomon's reign. It serves as the backdrop for much of Solomon's life and teachings. 3. The Assembly (Qoheleth) - The term "Ecclesiastes" is derived from the Greek translation of the Hebrew word "Qoheleth," meaning "the assembler" or "teacher," referring to the speaker in the book. Teaching Points The Value of SorrowSorrow can lead to introspection and personal growth. It encourages us to reflect on our lives and align more closely with God's will. Emotional Depth and Spiritual Growth Experiencing a range of emotions, including sorrow, can deepen our spiritual journey and reliance on God. It reminds us of our need for His comfort and guidance. Contrast with Worldly Views The world often prioritizes happiness and laughter, but Scripture teaches that sorrow has its place and purpose in developing a mature faith. Heart Transformation A "sad countenance" can lead to a softened heart, open to transformation and the work of the Holy Spirit. Eternal Perspective Sorrow can shift our focus from temporary pleasures to eternal truths, helping us prioritize what truly matters in life. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Ecclesiastes 7Why is sorrow preferable to laughter? What does the Bible say about the value of laughter? What does the Bible say about the value of laughter? What does Proverbs 14:13 mean?(3) Sadness of the countenance.--Genesis 40:7; Nehemiah 3:3. "Anger" (margin). This is the usual meaning of the word, and so in Ecclesiastes 7:9. It is accordingly adopted here by the older translators, but the rendering of our version is required by the context.Verse 3. - Sorrow is better than laughter. This is a further expansion of the previous maxim, כַּעַס (kaas), as contrasted with שְׂהוק, is rightly rendered "sorrow," "melancholy," or, as Ginsburg contends, "thoughtful sadness." The Septuagint has θυμός, the Vulgate ira; but auger is not the feeling produced by a visit to the house of mourning. Such a scene produces saddening reflection, which is in itself a moral training, and is more wholesome and elevating than thoughtless mirth. For by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The feeling which shows itself by the look of sadness (comp. Genesis 40:7; Nehemiah 2:2) has a purifying effect on the heart, gives a moral tone to the character. Professor Tayler Lewis renders the clause, "For in the sad. ness of the face the heart becometh fair;" i.e. sorrow beautifies the soul, producing, as it were, comeliness, spiritual beauty, and, in the end, serener happiness. The Vulgate translates the passage thus: Melter eat ira risu; quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus deliquentis, "Better is anger than laughter, because through sadness of countenance the mind of the offender is corrected." The anger is that either of God or of good men which reproves sin; the laughter is that of sinners who thus show their connivance at or approval of evil. There can be no doubt that this is not the sense of the passage. For the general sentiment concerning the moral influence of grief and suffering, we may compare the Greek sayings, Τὰ παθήματα μαθήματα, and Τί μαθών τί παθών; which are almost equivalent in meaning (comp. AEschyl., 'Again.,' 170; Herod., 1:207). The Latins would say, "Quaenocent, docent," and we, "Pain is gain." Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Sorrowכַּ֖עַס (ka·‘as) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3708: Vexation, anger is better ט֥וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good than laughter, מִשְּׂחֹ֑ק (miś·śə·ḥōq) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7814: Laughter, derision, sport for כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction a sad בְרֹ֥עַ (ḇə·rō·a‘) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7455: Badness, evil countenance פָּנִ֖ים (pā·nîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 6440: The face is good יִ֥יטַב (yî·ṭaḇ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3190: To be good, well, glad, or pleasing for the heart. לֵֽב׃ (lêḇ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre Links Ecclesiastes 7:3 NIVEcclesiastes 7:3 NLT Ecclesiastes 7:3 ESV Ecclesiastes 7:3 NASB Ecclesiastes 7:3 KJV Ecclesiastes 7:3 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 7:3 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 7:3 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 7:3 French Bible Ecclesiastes 7:3 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter (Ecclesiast. 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