Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep.
Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.
Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.
I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.