Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bone…”

Proverbs 17:22

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

World English Bible

A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

American Standard Version

A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

Geneva Bible 1599

A ioyfull heart causeth good health: but a sorowfull minde dryeth the bones.

Darby Translation

A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

Young's Literal Translation

A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.

Bible in Basic English

A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“merry”

Proverbs 15:13 Proverbs 12:25 Proverbs 18:14 Ecclesiastes 9:7–9 Romans 5:2–5

Proverbs 15:13 · BSB

A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 12:25 · BSB

Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.

Proverbs 18:14 · BSB

The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?

Ecclesiastes 9:7–9 · BSB

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:

Romans 5:2–5 · BSB

through 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.

“a broken”

2 Corinthians 7:10 2 Corinthians 2:7 Psalm 102:3–5 Psalm 22:15 Psalm 32:3 Psalm 32:4

2 Corinthians 7:10 · BSB

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

2 Corinthians 2:7 · BSB

So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

Psalm 102:3–5 · BSB

For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.

Psalm 22:15 · BSB

My 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.

Psalm 32:3 · BSB

When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.

Psalm 32:4 · BSB

For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the summer heat. Selah

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

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.

Read Proverbs 17