15:13

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

13a
A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance,

13b but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.

This proverb contrasts the outward effects of happiness with the inward effects of sorrow.

15:13a

A joyful heart: Here the phrase joyful heart means that a person’s inner being is glad or joyful.

makes a cheerful countenance: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as makes a cheerful countenance is literally “causes faces to be good.” Here it means that inner happiness shows on a person’s face.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

Happiness makes a person smile (New Century Version)
-or-
When people are happy, they smile (Good News Translation)

15:13b

but sorrow of the heart: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sorrow of the heart is literally “pain of heart.” It refers to sorrow or other painful feelings.

crushes the spirit: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crushes is literally “beaten/broken.” This is not the same Hebrew word that was used in 15:4b, but it has almost the same meaning. In this context, it means that painful feelings will cause depression. One way to express this meaning is:

but with a heartache comes depression (God’s Word)

General Comment on 15:13a–b

Many languages have idioms that refer to happiness and sorrow. For example, English uses the idioms lighthearted and heavyhearted. Consider using idioms in your language that may express the meaning more effectively than plain language.

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