Proverbs 17:22

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Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.

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

— WEB

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

— KJV

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

— ASV

Bible Verses for the Brokenhearted

Cross-references

Related verses via the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Proverbs 15:13 "A glad heart makes a cheerful face; but an aching heart breaks the spirit."
Proverbs 12:25 "Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad."
Proverbs 18:14 "A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?"
2 Corinthians 7:10 "For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death."
Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 "Go your way—eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works."
Romans 5:2-5 "through 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 2:7 "so that on the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his exces…"
Psalms 102:3-5 "For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a torch."

Commentary

Note, 1. It is healthful to be cheerful. The Lord is for the body, and has provided for it, not only meat, but medicine, and has here told us that the best medicine is a merry heart, not a heart addicted to vain, carnal, sensual mirth; Solomon himself said of that mirth, It is not medicine, but madness; it is not food, but poison; what doth it? But he means a heart rejoicing in God, and serving him with gladness, and then taking the comfort of outward enjoyments and particularly that of pleasant conversation. It is a great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful and cause to be cheerful, especially if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful. This does good to a medicine (so some read it); it will make physic more efficient. Or it does good as a medicine to the body, making it easy and fit for business. But, if mirth be a medicine (understand it of diversion and recreation), it must be used sparingly, only when there is occasion, not turned into food, and it must be used medicinally, sub regimine - as a prescribed regimen, and by rule. 2.

— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary (public domain)

(Compare Pro 14:30; Pro 15:13). The effect of the mind on the body is well known. medicine--or, "body," which better corresponds with "bone." drieth--as if the marrow were exhausted.

— Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (public domain)

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