King James Version

Ecclesiastes 7:3

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

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Hebrew

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ט֥וֹבtovgoodטוֹבadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “good”, the ordinary formH2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant,…כַּ֖עַסkaasangerכַּעַסnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “anger”, the ordinary formH3708vexationanger, angry, grief, indignation, provocation, provoking, [idiom] sore, sorrow, spite, wrath.מִשְּׂחֹ֑קmischoqfrom laughterשְׂחוֹקpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “from laughter”, the ordinary formH7814laughter (in merriment or defiance)derision, laughter(-ed to scorn, -ing), mocked, sport.כִּֽיkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…בְרֹ֥עַveroain badnessרֹעַpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “in badness”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7455badness (as marring), physically or morally[idiom] be so bad, badness, ([idiom] be so) evil, naughtiness, sadness, sorrow, wickedness.פָּנִ֖יםpanima- foreפָּנִיםnoun, common, both genders, plural, absolute — “a- fore”, the ordinary formH6440the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)[phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-…יִ֥יטַבyitavbe acceptedיָטַבverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be accepted”, an unfinished actionH3190to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)be accepted, amend, use aright, benefit, be (make) better, seem best, make cheerful, be comely, [phrase] be content, diligent(-ly), dress, earnestly, find favour, give, be glad, do (be, make) good(-ness), be (make) merry, please ([phrase]…לֵֽבlevcomfortablyלֵבnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “comfortably”, the ordinary formH3820the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything[phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom]…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart may be gladdened.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.

Young’s Literal Translation

Better [is] sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the face the heart becometh better.

World English Bible

Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

Darby Translation

Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Douay-Rheims

It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: for in that we are put in mind of the end of all, and the living thinketh what is to come.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart may be gladdened.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἀγαθὸν θυμὸς ὑπὲρ γέλωτα, ὅτι ἐν κακίᾳ προσώπου ἀγαθυνθήσεται καρδία.