⇦ Ecclesiastes 7:2Ecclesiastes 7Ecclesiastes 7:4 ⇨
Ecclesiastes 7:3 in Other Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
Bible in Basic English (BBE)
Sorrow is better than joy; when the face is sad the mind gets better.
Darby English Bible (DBY)
Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
World English Bible (WEB)
Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
Better `is' sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the face the heart becometh better.
| Sorrow | ט֥וֹב | ṭôb | tove |
| is better | כַּ֖עַס | kaʿas | KA-as |
| than laughter: | מִשְּׂח֑וֹק | miśśĕḥôq | mee-seh-HOKE |
| for | כִּֽי | kî | kee |
| sadness the by | בְרֹ֥עַ | bĕrōaʿ | veh-ROH-ah |
| of the countenance | פָּנִ֖ים | pānîm | pa-NEEM |
| the heart | יִ֥יטַב | yîṭab | YEE-tahv |
| is made better. | לֵֽב׃ | lēb | lave |