King James Version

Proverbs 17:22

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

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Hebrew

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לֵ֣בlevcomfortablyלֵבnoun, 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]…שָׂ֭מֵחַsamechagladשָׂמֵחַadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “glad”, the ordinary formH8056blithe or gleeful(be) glad, joyful, (making) merry((-hearted), -ily), rejoice(-ing).יֵיטִ֣בyeytivbe acceptedיָטַבverb, hiphil, 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]…גֵּהָ֑הgehahmedicineגֵּהָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “medicine”, the ordinary formH1456a curemedicine.וְר֥וּחַveruchaand angerרוּחַconjunction, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “and anger”, the ordinary formH7307wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).נְ֝כֵאָ֗הnekheahbrokenנָכֵאadjective, adjective, feminine, singular, absolute — “broken”, the ordinary formH5218smitten, i.e. (figuratively) afflictedbroken, stricken, wounded.תְּיַבֶּשׁteyabeshbe ashamedיָבֵשׁverb, piel, imperfect, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “be ashamed”, an unfinished actionH3001to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as herbage)be ashamed, clean, be confounded, (make) dry (up), (do) shame(-fully), [idiom] utterly, wither (away).גָּֽרֶםgaremboneגֶּרֶםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “bone”, the ordinary formH1634a bone (as the skeleton of the body); hence, self, i.e. (figuratively) verybone, strong, top.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Young’s Literal Translation

A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.

World English Bible

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

Darby Translation

A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

Douay-Rheims

A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καρδία εὐφραινομένη εὐεκτεῖν ποιεῖ, ἀνδρὸς δὲ λυπηροῦ ξηραίνεται τὰ ὀστᾶ.