Proverbs 17:22

New International Reader's Version

A cheerful heart makes you healthy. But a broken spirit dries you up.

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My mouth is dried up like a piece of broken pottery. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You bring me down to the edge of the grave.

Worry makes the heart heavy. But a kind word cheers it up.

A happy heart makes a face look cheerful. But a sad heart produces a broken spirit.

Kind words are like honey. They are sweet to the spirit and bring healing to the body.

A cheerful spirit gives strength even during sickness. But you can’t keep going if you have a broken spirit.

“Laughter doesn’t make any sense,” I said. “And what can pleasure do for me?”

Now you should forgive him and comfort him. Then he won’t be sad more than he can stand.

Godly sadness causes us to turn away from our sins and be saved. And we are certainly not sorry about that! But worldly sadness brings death.