Proverbs 15:15
All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
BSB
ASV
All the days of the afflicted are evil; But he that is of a cheerful heart hath a continual feast.
KJV
All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
All the days of the afflicted are evil,.... And some are afflicted all their days, from their youth up; so that not only the days of old age are evil days, in which they have no pleasure, but even the days of their youth; all their days, as Jacob says, "few and evil have the days of the years of my life been", Gen 47:9; because they had been filled up with affliction and trouble of one sort or another.
Afflicted - The affliction meant here is less that of outward circumstances than of a troubled and downcast spirit. Life to the cheerful is as one perpetual banquet, whether he be poor or rich. That which disturbs the feast is anxiety, the taking (anxious) thought” of Mat 6:34.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
Proverbs 17:22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
leads to
Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
Through
Romans 12:12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
leads to
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah
You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
