10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no outsider shares in its joy.

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10 The heart knows its own distress;
    another person can’t share its joy.

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13 Even in laughter a heart may be sad,
and joy may end in grief.(A)

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13 The heart feels pain even in laughter,
    and in the end, joy turns to sorrow.

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13 A joyful heart makes a face cheerful,
but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.(A)

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13 A joyful heart brightens one’s face,
    but a troubled heart breaks the spirit.

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22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.(A)

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22 A joyful heart helps healing,
    but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

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14 A person’s spirit can endure sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?(A)

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14 The human spirit sustains a sick person,
    but who can bear a broken spirit?

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20 Singing songs to a troubled heart
is like taking off clothing on a cold day
or like pouring vinegar on soda.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 25:20 Lit natron, or sodium carbonate

20 Singing a song to a troubled heart
    is like taking off a garment on a cold day
    or putting vinegar on a wound.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:20 LXX; MT vinegar on natron (a detergent)

11 Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy,(A)
so that I can answer anyone who taunts me.(B)

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11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,
    so I can answer those who insult me.

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An evil person is caught by sin,(A)
but the righteous one sings and rejoices.(B)

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The wicked are snared by their own sin;[a]
    the righteous sing and rejoice.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:6 Tg, Syr; MT In the sin of an evil man is a snare