Proverbs 17:22

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.

American King James Version (AKJV)

A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.

American Standard Version (ASV)

A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.

Webster's Revision

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

World English Bible

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

English Revised Version (ERV)

A merry heart is a good medicine: but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

Clarke's Proverbs 17:22 Bible Commentary

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine - Instead of גהה gehah, a medicine, it appears that the Chaldee and Syriac had read in their copies גוה gevah, the body, as they translate in this way. This makes the apposition here more complete: "A merry heart doeth good to the body; but a broken spirit drieth the bones." Nothing has such a direct tendency to ruin health and waste out life as grief, anxiety, fretfulness, bad tempers, etc. All these work death.

Barnes's Proverbs 17:22 Bible Commentary

Doeth good like a medicine - Better, worketh a good healing. Omit "like."

Wesley's Proverbs 17:22 Bible Commentary

17:22 Doth good - Even to the body; it contributes much to bodily health and vigour. Drieth - Wastes the marrow of the bones, and the moisture and strength of the body.