Proverbs 15:15
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All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
See here what a great difference there is between the condition and temper of some and others of the children of men. 1. Some are much in affliction, and of a sorrowful spirit, and all their days are evil days, like those of old age, and days of which they say they have no pleasure in them. They eat in darkness (Ecc 5:17) and never eat with pleasure, Job 21:25. How many are the afflictions of the afflicted in this world! Such are not to be censured or despised, but pitied and prayed for, succoured and comforted. It might have been our own lot, or may be yet, merry as we are at present. 2. Others enjoy great prosperity and are of a cheerful spirit; and they have not only good days, but have a continual feast; and if in the abundance of all things they serve God with gladness of heart, and it is oil to the wheels of their obedience (all this, and heaven too), then they serve a good Master. But let not such feast without fear; a sudden change may come; therefore rejoice with trembling.
Open source ↗15:15 Personality affects our outlook on life.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
“My travels have lasted 130 years,” Jacob replied. “My years have been few and hard, and they have not matched the years of the travels of my fathers.”