Proverbs 15:15 kjv

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:15 nkjv

All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:15 niv

All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:15 esv

All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:15 nlt

For the despondent, every day brings trouble;
for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.

Proverbs 15 verses

Proverbs 15 15 Meaning

Proverbs 15:15 conveys that one's inner disposition significantly determines their perception and experience of life. To the "afflicted" (one who is downcast, distressed, or suffering), every day seems burdensome and negative, irrespective of actual events. In stark contrast, a person with a "merry heart" (a joyful, content, and positive spirit) experiences continuous enjoyment and satisfaction, likening their life to an unending feast, regardless of external circumstances. This proverb emphasizes that true well-being stems from an internal state rather than outward conditions.

Proverbs 15 15 Context

Proverbs chapter 15 offers a collection of antithetical proverbs, contrasting the characteristics and outcomes of the wise and the foolish, the righteous and the wicked. The themes revolve around the power of words, the importance of a discerning heart, and the internal disposition over external display. Verse 15 fits squarely within this emphasis, contrasting the outward circumstances of "affliction" with the inward state of a "merry heart," asserting the latter's superiority. Historically, ancient Israel's wisdom literature, like Proverbs, aimed to impart practical godly wisdom for daily life, often challenging superficial understandings of blessing and suffering that were common in surrounding cultures or even simplistic views within Israel. It implicitly counters a deterministic or fatalistic worldview that suggests life's quality is solely a result of external fate, emphasizing instead the agency and inner life of the individual under God's sovereignty.

Proverbs 15 15 Word analysis

• All the days (כָּל־יְמֵי - kol yemey):
  • Literally "all the days of." The Hebrew kol (כָּל) means "all" or "every," emphasizing totality and constant experience. It highlights the pervasive nature of the afflicted person's perception, where every day, without exception, is characterized by negativity.
• of the afflicted (עָנִי - ʿani):
  • ʿani (עָנִי) typically describes someone who is humble, lowly, poor, or oppressed. However, in this context, it transcends mere financial status and primarily denotes someone who is suffering, miserable, downcast, distressed, or experiencing a deep sense of psychological and emotional burden. Their "affliction" is their perpetual state of despondency or a sense of hardship.
• are evil (רָעִים - raʿim):
  • raʿim (רָעִים) is the plural of raʿ (רָע). While raʿ can mean "evil" in a moral sense, it also extensively means bad, grievous, disastrous, painful, or distressing. Here, it signifies that the days feel bad, difficult, and miserable to the person, colored by their inner state. It's not necessarily about moral evil in the days, but their felt quality.
• But he who is of a merry heart (וְטוֹב לֵב - ve'ṭov lev):
  • ve (וְ) is "but," introducing a strong contrast.
  • ṭov (טוֹב) means "good," pleasant, prosperous.
  • lev (לֵב) means "heart," which in Hebrew thought represents the totality of a person's inner being—their mind, will, emotions, and moral character. So, "good heart" signifies a cheerful, contented, joyful, optimistic, or serene inner disposition. It's a heart that perceives things positively or chooses joy despite circumstances.
• has a continual feast (מִשְׁתֶּה תָּמִיד - mishteh tamid):
  • mishteh (מִשְׁתֶּה) refers to a drinking feast, a banquet, or a celebratory meal. It implies abundance, joy, conviviality, and satisfaction. Feasts were occasions of delight and relaxation.
  • tamid (תָּמִיד) means "continually," "always," "perpetually," or "without ceasing."
  • This phrase uses hyperbole to illustrate that for the person with a joyful heart, life itself feels like an unending celebration, full of abundance and satisfaction, independent of their material wealth or external conditions. Their internal state transforms their experience into constant enjoyment.

Words-group analysis:

• "All the days of the afflicted are evil": This phrase highlights a subjective reality. The world is not objectively "evil" every day, but the "afflicted" person's perspective casts a negative shadow on everything, making their experiences burdensome. Their internal suffering taints their entire perception of time and life.
• "But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast": This counter-statement provides the positive alternative. The "merry heart" creates its own "feast." This feast isn't material; it's a state of inner contentment and joy that remains unbroken, regardless of external trials. It is a profound declaration that true blessedness is a state of mind and spirit.

Proverbs 15 15 Bonus section

• The concept of the "heart" (lev) in Hebrew wisdom literature is not merely the emotional organ, but the seat of intellect, will, and conscience. Therefore, a "merry heart" implies not just feeling happy, but also choosing joy, thinking optimistically, and orienting one's will towards contentment in God.
• This proverb has spiritual depth. For believers, a "merry heart" is often cultivated through a relationship with the Lord, understanding His sovereignty, and finding joy in His presence, as reflected in many Psalms (e.g., Ps 16:11). The spiritual peace and contentment gained through Christ enable one to face adversity without inner turmoil.
• The proverb offers a significant challenge to prosperity gospel interpretations that directly link external blessings to spiritual merit. While blessings do come, this proverb shows that true internal prosperity ("continual feast") is available regardless of the physical "affliction," redefining wealth and poverty in terms of inner state.

Proverbs 15 15 Commentary

Proverbs 15:15 encapsulates a profound truth about human experience: external circumstances, though influential, do not solely dictate one's quality of life. Instead, an individual's internal disposition and perspective are paramount. The "afflicted" individual, weighed down by inner despair or anxiety, sees every day as burdensome or "evil." This isn't a judgment on their character but a description of their experiential reality where their mental or emotional suffering casts a pervasive shadow.

Conversely, the one "of a merry heart" experiences life as a "continual feast." This "merry heart" is not merely superficial cheerfulness, but a deep-seated joy, contentment, and a disposition to find good even amidst difficulties. It's often rooted in a person's faith, trust in divine providence, or a conscious choice to cultivate gratitude and positive outlooks. Such an individual is less dependent on external success or comfort for their happiness. They carry an inner banquet hall within them, a place of peace and delight that no outward circumstance can entirely destroy. This verse therefore calls believers not to be governed by the vagaries of life but to cultivate an inner fortress of joy, founded often on the unshakable realities of God's character and promises.