10 The heart knows its own (A)bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.

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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 in pain,
And the (A)end of joy may be grief.

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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 (A)joyful heart makes a [a]cheerful face,
But [b]when the heart is (B)sad, the (C)spirit is broken.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:13 Lit good
  2. Proverbs 15:13 Lit in sadness of heart

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

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22 A (A)joyful heart [a]is good medicine,
But a broken spirit (B)dries up the bones.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:22 Lit causes good healing

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

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14 The (A)spirit of a person can endure his sickness,
But as for a (B)broken spirit, who can endure it?

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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 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on [a]soda,
Is one who sings songs to [b]a troubled heart.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:20 I.e., natron
  2. Proverbs 25:20 Lit an evil

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 (A)Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
So that I may (B)reply to one who taunts me.

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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.

By wrongdoing an evil person is (A)ensnared,
But the righteous (B)sings and rejoices.

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

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