Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. | Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. |
Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. | Blessed is the person who has found wisdom, the one who has gained understanding. |
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But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin. | Blessed is the man whom God reproves. Therefore, do not reject the discipline of the Almighty. |
We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away. | The righteous is remembered with blessings, but the name of the wicked fades away. |
So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! | Go forth, then. Eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God long ago approved what you do. |
Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful. | The one who pays heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. |
So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. | I understand that man’s greatest happiness is to be glad and do well throughout his life. And when we eat and drink and find satisfaction in all our labors, this is a gift of God. |
For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” | For: “If anyone wishes to love life and to experience good days, he must restrain his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.” |
How joyful are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways! | Blessed are all those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. |
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! | Blessed is the one whose offense is forgiven, whose sin is erased. |
Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. | Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in accord with the law of the Lord. |
Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. | Blessed are those who observe his statutes and seek him with their whole heart. |
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! | Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. |
A newly married man must not be drafted into the army or be given any other official responsibilities. He must be free to spend one year at home, bringing happiness to the wife he has married. | If a man has recently been married, he is not to go off to battle nor have any other duty laid on him. He will be free to stay at home for one year so that he can bring happiness to the wife whom he has married. |
What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance. | Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage. |
Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. | Alleluia. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his precepts. |
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. | Yet even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are thereby blessed. Have no fear of others, and refuse to be intimidated by them. |
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. | Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the company of scoffers. |
And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. | Moreover, the one to whom God grants wealth and possessions and the ability to enjoy them and to find contentment in his toil receives a gift from God. |
Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life. | When things are going well, be grateful for your blessings, and in times of adversity consider this: God has made both of them, so that we cannot predict with confidence what the future holds. |