Proverbes 17:22

22 Un coeur joyeux est un bon remède, Mais un esprit abattu dessèche les os.

Proverbes 17:22 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart doth good [like] a medicine
Does the body good, makes it healthful and vigorous. Cheerfulness of spirit has a great influence upon the body, and much contributes to the health and welfare of it; see ( Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 ) ; and especially a heart full of spiritual joy, peace of conscience, flowing from the blood of Christ, joy in the Holy Ghost, a rejoicing in Christ Jesus and his righteousness, and in hope of the glory of God, much affect even the outward man. Or, "a merry heart makes a good medicine" ^F24; it is a good medicine of itself; raises the spirits, invigorates the body, and fits it for service and business: or, "does a medicine good" ^F25; makes that operate kindly, and to a good purpose: or, as Jarchi, makes the countenance shine well, makes a serene countenance; which Schultens approves, and, from the use of the word in the Arabic language, confirms; but a broken spirit drieth the bones;
a spirit broken with sorrow, whether on spiritual or temporal accounts; as it weakens the nerves, it dries up the marrow in the bones, and emaciates the body, and reduces it to a skeleton: the joy or grief of the mind, those passions of the soul, have a very great influence upon the body, either for its good or hurt.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 (hhg bjyy xmv bl) "cor hilare bonam facit sanationem", Michaelis.
F25 So R. Joseph Kimchi; "bonificat sive meliorem reddit medicinam", some in Valablus; "bene medicinam facit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Proverbes 17:22 In-Context

20 Un coeur faux ne trouve pas le bonheur, Et celui dont la langue est perverse tombe dans le malheur.

21 Celui qui donne naissance à un insensé aura du chagrin; Le père d'un fou ne peut pas se réjouir.

22 Un coeur joyeux est un bon remède, Mais un esprit abattu dessèche les os.

23 Le méchant accepte en secret des présents, Pour pervertir les voies de la justice.

24 La sagesse est en face de l'homme intelligent, Mais les yeux de l'insensé sont à l'extrémité de la terre.