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10 The heart knows its own bitterness and joy;
    he will not share these with a stranger.

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10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can fully share its joy.

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13 Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful,
    and mirth may end in heaviness.

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13 Laughter can conceal a heavy heart,
    but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.

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13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but an aching heart breaks the spirit.

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13 A glad heart makes a happy face;
    a broken heart crushes the spirit.

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

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22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

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14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness,
    but a crushed spirit, who can bear?

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14 The human spirit can endure a sick body,
    but who can bear a crushed spirit?

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20 As one who takes away a garment in cold weather,
    or vinegar on soda,
    so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

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20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart
    is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather
    or pouring vinegar in a wound.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 25:20 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads pouring vinegar on soda.

11 Be wise, my son,
    and bring joy to my heart,
    then I can answer my tormentor.

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11 Be wise, my child,[a] and make my heart glad.
    Then I will be able to answer my critics.

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Footnotes

  1. 27:11 Hebrew my son.

An evil man is snared by his sin,
    but the righteous can sing and be glad.

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Evil people are trapped by sin,
    but the righteous escape, shouting for joy.

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