Ecclesiastes 7:3

NETBible

Sorrow 1  is better than laughter, because sober reflection 2  is good for the heart. 3 

NIV ©

Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.

NASB ©

Sorrow is better than laughter, For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.

NLT ©

Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.

MSG ©

Crying is better than laughing. It blotches the face but it scours the heart.

BBE ©

Sorrow is better than joy; when the face is sad the mind gets better.

NRSV ©

Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad.

NKJV ©

Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

KJV
Sorrow
<03708>
[is] better
<02896>
than laughter
<07814>_:
for by the sadness
<07455>
of the countenance
<06440>
the heart
<03820>
is made better
<03190> (8799)_.
{Sorrow: or, Anger}
NASB ©
Sorrow
<3708>
is better
<2896>
than
<4480>
laughter
<7814>
, For when a face
<6440>
is sad
<7455>
a heart
<3820>
may be happy
<3190>
.
LXXM
agayon
<18> 
A-NSN
yumov
<2372> 
N-NSM
uper
<5228> 
PREP
gelwta
<1071> 
N-ASM
oti
<3754> 
CONJ
en
<1722> 
PREP
kakia
<2549> 
N-DSF
proswpou
<4383> 
N-GSN
agayunyhsetai {V-FPI-3S} kardia
<2588> 
N-NSF
NET [draft] ITL
Sorrow
<03708>
is better
<02896>
than laughter
<07814>
, because
<03588>
sober reflection
<07455>
is good
<03190>
for
<06440>
the heart
<03820>
.
HEBREW
bl
<03820>
bjyy
<03190>
Mynp
<06440>
erb
<07455>
yk
<03588>
qxvm
<07814>
oek
<03708>
bwj (7:3)
<02896>
NETBible

Sorrow 1  is better than laughter, because sober reflection 2  is good for the heart. 3 

NET Notes

1 tn NEB suggests “grief”; NJPS, “vexation.”

2 tn Heb “in sadness of face there is good for the heart.”

3 tn Or possibly “Though the face is sad, the heart may be glad.”