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

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10 The heart[a] knows the bitterness of its soul,[b]
    but in its joy, it will not share itself with a stranger.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:10 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 14:10 Or “life,” or “inner self”

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

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13 Even in laughter, a heart may be sad,
    and the end of joy may be grief.

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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 heart[a] of gladness will make good countenance,[b]
    but in sorrow of heart[c] a spirit is broken.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 15:13 Literally “faces”
  3. Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”

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

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22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a downcast spirit will dry out 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 spirit of a man will endure his sickness,
    but a broken spirit, who may bear it?

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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 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on natron,[a]
    is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:20 A mineral salt found on dry lake beds often used as a preservative.

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,
    and I will answer him who reproaches me with a word.

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

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In transgression, an evil man is a snare,
    but the righteous will sing and rejoice.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:6 Hebrew “he will rejoice”