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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/proverbs/17.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/proverbs/17.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/proverbs/17.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/proverbs/17.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/17.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/proverbs/17.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />A merry heart doeth good <i>like</i> a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/proverbs/17.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />A merry heart does good, <i>like</i> medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/proverbs/17.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/proverbs/17.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/proverbs/17.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/proverbs/17.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />A glad heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/proverbs/17.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />A happy heart is good medicine <i>and</i> a joyful mind causes healing, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/proverbs/17.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/proverbs/17.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/proverbs/17.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/proverbs/17.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />If you are cheerful, you feel good; if you are sad, you hurt all over. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/proverbs/17.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />A merry heart is a good medicine: but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/proverbs/17.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />A joyful heart is good medicine, but depression drains one's strength.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/proverbs/17.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/proverbs/17.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit drains one's strength. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/proverbs/17.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/proverbs/17.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/proverbs/17.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/proverbs/17.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/proverbs/17.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/proverbs/17.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />A rejoicing heart does good to the body, "" And a struck spirit dries the bone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/proverbs/17.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/proverbs/17.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />A joyful heart shall make good healing: and a dejected spirit shall dry up the bones.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/proverbs/17.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/proverbs/17.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/proverbs/17.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/proverbs/17.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/proverbs/17.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />A merry heart makes the body healthy; but a broken spirit dries up the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/proverbs/17.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />A merry heart improves the body and a depressed spirit dries the bones.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/proverbs/17.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />A merry heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth the bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/proverbs/17.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/proverbs/17-22.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpUA5ZltBeQ?start=3459" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/17.htm">Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">21</span>A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy. <span class="reftext">22</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/8056.htm" title="8056: mê·aḥ (Adj-ms) -- Glad, joyful, merry. From samach; blithe or gleeful.">A joyful</a> <a href="/hebrew/3820.htm" title="3820: lêḇ (N-ms) -- A form of lebab; the heart; also used very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything.">heart</a> <a href="/hebrew/3190.htm" title="3190: yê·ṭiḇ (V-Hifil-Imperf-3ms) -- To be good, well, glad, or pleasing. A primitive root; to be make well, literally or figuratively.">is good</a> <a href="/hebrew/1456.htm" title="1456: gê·hāh (N-fs) -- A healing, cure. From gahah; a cure.">medicine,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5218.htm" title="5218: nə·ḵê·’āh (Adj-fs) -- Smitten, afflicted. Or nakat; from naka'; smitten, i.e. afflicted.">but a broken</a> <a href="/hebrew/7307.htm" title="7307: wə·rū·aḥ (Conj-w:: N-cs) -- Breath, wind, spirit. From ruwach; wind; by resemblance breath.">spirit</a> <a href="/hebrew/3001.htm" title="3001: tə·yab·beš- (V-Piel-Imperf-3fs) -- To be dry, dried up, or withered. A primitive root; to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also to dry up or wither.">dries up</a> <a href="/hebrew/1634.htm" title="1634: gā·rem (N-ms) -- A bone, strength. From garam; a bone; hence, self, i.e. very.">the bones.</a> </span><span class="reftext">23</span>A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/4-4.htm">Philippians 4:4-7</a></span><br />Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! / Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near. / Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/8-10.htm">Nehemiah 8:10</a></span><br />Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/5-13.htm">James 5:13-16</a></span><br />Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. / Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. / And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/32-1.htm">Psalm 32:1-2</a></span><br />Of David. A Maskil. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. / Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/5-16.htm">1 Thessalonians 5:16-18</a></span><br />Rejoice at all times. / Pray without ceasing. / Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/51-8.htm">Psalm 51:8-12</a></span><br />Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. / Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. / Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/15-13.htm">Romans 15:13</a></span><br />Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/61-1.htm">Isaiah 61:1-3</a></span><br />The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, / 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/1-3.htm">2 Corinthians 1:3-4</a></span><br />Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, / 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/34-18.htm">Psalm 34:18</a></span><br />The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-12.htm">Matthew 5:12</a></span><br />Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/147-3.htm">Psalm 147:3</a></span><br />He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/16-22.htm">John 16:22-24</a></span><br />So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. / In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. / Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/103-1.htm">Psalm 103:1-5</a></span><br />Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name. / Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds— / He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/1-8.htm">1 Peter 1:8-9</a></span><br />Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, / now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.</p><p class="hdg">merry</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/12-25.htm">Proverbs 12:25</a></b></br> Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/15-13.htm">Proverbs 15:13</a></b></br> A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/18-14.htm">Proverbs 18:14</a></b></br> The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?</p><p class="hdg">like a medicine</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/22-15.htm">Psalm 22:15</a></b></br> My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/32-3.htm">Psalm 32:3,4</a></b></br> When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/102-3.htm">Psalm 102:3-5</a></b></br> For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/proverbs/16-24.htm">Body</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-24.htm">Bone</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-24.htm">Bones</a> <a href="/proverbs/15-13.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/proverbs/15-30.htm">Cheerful</a> <a href="/psalms/146-7.htm">Crushed</a> <a href="/psalms/43-5.htm">Downcast</a> <a href="/job/14-11.htm">Dries</a> <a href="/job/14-11.htm">Drieth</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-1.htm">Dry</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-5.htm">Glad</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-20.htm">Good</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-24.htm">Healing</a> <a href="/psalms/73-4.htm">Healthy</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-20.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/proverbs/15-13.htm">Joyful</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-19.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/jeremiah/30-13.htm">Medicine</a> <a href="/proverbs/15-15.htm">Merry</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-5.htm">Rejoicing</a> <a href="/proverbs/15-13.htm">Smitten</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-32.htm">Spirit</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/proverbs/18-8.htm">Body</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-15.htm">Bone</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/11-5.htm">Bones</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-14.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/9-7.htm">Cheerful</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-14.htm">Crushed</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-20.htm">Downcast</a> <a href="/isaiah/24-4.htm">Dries</a> <a href="/jonah/4-7.htm">Drieth</a> <a href="/isaiah/1-30.htm">Dry</a> <a href="/proverbs/23-15.htm">Glad</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-26.htm">Good</a> <a href="/proverbs/29-1.htm">Healing</a> <a href="/jeremiah/30-17.htm">Healthy</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-2.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/proverbs/23-25.htm">Joyful</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-6.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/jeremiah/30-13.htm">Medicine</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/8-15.htm">Merry</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-6.htm">Rejoicing</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-14.htm">Smitten</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-27.htm">Spirit</a><div class="vheading2">Proverbs 17</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/17-1.htm">Contrasts between the Righteous and the Wicked</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In biblical context, joy is often associated with a deep-seated trust in God and His promises. The idea that joy acts as "good medicine" suggests that a positive, faith-filled outlook can have tangible benefits for one's physical and emotional well-being. This aligns with the holistic view of health found in Scripture, where spiritual, emotional, and physical health are interconnected. The concept of joy as healing is echoed in other scriptures, such as <a href="/nehemiah/8-10.htm">Nehemiah 8:10</a>, which states, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." This joy is not merely an emotion but a fruit of the Spirit (<a href="/galatians/5-22.htm">Galatians 5:22</a>), indicating its divine origin and sustaining power.<p><b>but a broken spirit dries up the bones</b><br>A broken spirit refers to a state of deep despair or hopelessness, often resulting from prolonged suffering or sin. In ancient Hebrew culture, the bones were considered the core of one's physical being, and to have them "dried up" symbolizes a profound depletion of life and vitality. This imagery is consistent with other biblical passages, such as <a href="/psalms/32-3.htm">Psalm 32:3</a>, where David describes the physical effects of unconfessed sin: "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away." The contrast between a joyful heart and a broken spirit highlights the importance of maintaining spiritual health through faith and repentance. The drying of the bones can also be seen as a metaphor for spiritual death, which is ultimately remedied through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who offers new life and restoration to the brokenhearted (<a href="/isaiah/61.htm">Isaiah 61:1-3</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/solomon.htm">Solomon</a></b><br>Traditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His insights into human nature and godly living are reflected throughout the book of Proverbs.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/ancient_israel.htm">Ancient Israel</a></b><br>The cultural and historical context of Proverbs is ancient Israel, where wisdom literature was a key component of teaching and moral instruction.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_heart.htm">The Heart</a></b><br>In Hebrew thought, the heart is the center of emotions, thoughts, and intentions. It is not just the seat of feelings but also the core of one's being and decision-making.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_spirit.htm">The Spirit</a></b><br>The spirit in this context refers to one's inner life or emotional state. A "broken spirit" suggests deep emotional distress or depression.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/medicine.htm">Medicine</a></b><br>In ancient times, medicine was often derived from natural sources and was used to heal physical ailments. Here, it is metaphorically used to describe the healing power of joy.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_healing_power_of_joy.htm">The Healing Power of Joy</a></b><br>Joy is not merely an emotion but a spiritual state that can bring healing and restoration to our lives. Cultivating a joyful heart can have positive effects on both our physical and spiritual well-being.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_against_a_broken_spirit.htm">Guarding Against a Broken Spirit</a></b><br>A broken spirit can lead to despair and physical decline. It is important to seek God's presence and community support to prevent and heal from emotional distress.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_gratitude.htm">The Role of Gratitude</a></b><br>Practicing gratitude can foster a joyful heart. By focusing on God's blessings and faithfulness, we can maintain a positive outlook even in challenging times.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_and_encouragement.htm">Community and Encouragement</a></b><br>Being part of a supportive community can help maintain a joyful heart. Encouraging one another and sharing in each other's joys and burdens is vital for spiritual health.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/prayer_and_meditation.htm">Prayer and Meditation</a></b><br>Regular prayer and meditation on God's Word can help cultivate a joyful heart. By aligning our thoughts with God's promises, we can experience His peace and joy.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_proverbs_17.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 17</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/did_ancient_israelites_link_joy_to_health.htm">Is there evidence that ancient Israelites understood medical or psychological principles related to Proverbs 17:22's idea of a cheerful heart as "good medicine"?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/meaning_of_'a_merry_heart_is_medicine'.htm">What does "a merry heart does good like medicine" mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_should_christians_treat_foes.htm">What does 'a merry heart does good like medicine' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_do_bible_verses_say_on_happiness.htm">What do Bible verses say about happiness?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/proverbs/17.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(22) <span class= "bld">A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.</span>--Or rather, <span class= "ital">Makes good a recovery., </span>(For the duty of religious gladness, in gratitude for the love of God towards us, comp. <a href="/philippians/3-1.htm" title="Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.">Philippians 3:1</a>; <a href="/philippians/4-4.htm" title="Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.">Philippians 4:4</a>.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/17.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 22.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.</span> So Aben Ezra, understanding the particle of comparison, which is not in the Hebrew. The ward translated "medicine" (<span class="accented">gehah</span>) occurs nowhere else, and probably means "healing" "relief." The clause is better rendered, <span class="accented">a cheerful heart maketh a good healing</span> (comp. <a href="/proverbs/15-13.htm">Proverbs 15:13</a>; <a href="/proverbs/16-25.htm">Proverbs 16:25</a>). Vulgate, <span class="accented">aetatem</span> <span class="accented">floridam facit</span>; Septuagint, <span class="greek">εὐεκτεῖν ποιεῖ</span>, "makes one to be in good case." A cheerful, contented disposition enables a men to resist the attacks of disease, the mind, ms every one knows, having most powerful influence over the body. Ecclus. 30:22, "The gladness of the heart is the life of man, and the joyfulness of a man prolongeth his days." <span class="cmt_word">A broken spirit drieth the bones;</span> destroys all life and vigour (comp. <a href="/proverbs/3-8.htm">Proverbs 3:8</a>; <a href="/psalms/22-15.htm">Psalm 22:15</a>; <a href="/psalms/32-4.htm">Psalm 32:4</a>). We all remember the distich - <p><span class="accented">"A merry heart goes all the day,<br />Your sad tires in a mile-a."</span> So the rabbis enjoin, "Give ears no room in thine heart, for care hath killed many" (Dukes, p. 68). Religious gladness is a positive duty, and "low spirits," as Isaac Williams says, "are a sin." Asks the Greek moralist - <p><span class="greek">Ἄρ ἐστὶ συγγενές τι λύπη καὶ βίος</span> And Lucretius (3:473) affirms - <p><span class="foreign">"Nam dolor ac morbus leti fabricator uterque est."</span><br /><span class="accented">"Workers of death are sorrow and disease."</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/proverbs/17-22.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">A joyful</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׂ֭מֵחַ</span> <span class="translit">(mê·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8056.htm">Strong's 8056: </a> </span><span class="str2">Glad, joyful, merry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">heart</span><br /><span class="heb">לֵ֣ב</span> <span class="translit">(lêḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3820.htm">Strong's 3820: </a> </span><span class="str2">The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is good</span><br /><span class="heb">יֵיטִ֣ב</span> <span class="translit">(yê·ṭiḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3190.htm">Strong's 3190: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be good, well, glad, or pleasing</span><br /><br /><span class="word">medicine,</span><br /><span class="heb">גֵּהָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(gê·hāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1456.htm">Strong's 1456: </a> </span><span class="str2">A healing, cure</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but a broken</span><br /><span class="heb">נְ֝כֵאָ֗ה</span> <span class="translit">(nə·ḵê·’āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5218.htm">Strong's 5218: </a> </span><span class="str2">Smitten, afflicted</span><br /><br /><span class="word">spirit</span><br /><span class="heb">וְר֥וּחַ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·rū·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7307.htm">Strong's 7307: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit</span><br /><br /><span class="word">dries up</span><br /><span class="heb">תְּיַבֶּשׁ־</span> <span class="translit">(tə·yab·beš-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3001.htm">Strong's 3001: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be ashamed, confused, disappointed, to dry up, wither</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the bones.</span><br /><span class="heb">גָּֽרֶם׃</span> <span class="translit">(gā·rem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1634.htm">Strong's 1634: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bone, self, very</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/proverbs/17-22.htm">Proverbs 17:22 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/proverbs/17-22.htm">Proverbs 17:22 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/proverbs/17-22.htm">Proverbs 17:22 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/proverbs/17-22.htm">Proverbs 17:22 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/proverbs/17-22.htm">Proverbs 17:22 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/proverbs/17-22.htm">Proverbs 17:22 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/proverbs/17-22.htm">Proverbs 17:22 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/proverbs/17-22.htm">Proverbs 17:22 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/proverbs/17-22.htm">Proverbs 17:22 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/proverbs/17-22.htm">Proverbs 17:22 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/proverbs/17-22.htm">OT Poetry: Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine (Prov. Pro Pr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/proverbs/17-21.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Proverbs 17:21"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Proverbs 17:21" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/proverbs/17-23.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Proverbs 17:23"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Proverbs 17:23" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>