New Revised Standard Version
Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad.

Contemporary English Version
Choose sorrow over laughter because a sad face may hide a happy heart.

New American Bible
Sorrow is better than laughter; when the face is sad, the heart grows wise.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.

Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.

sorrow is better

Psalm 119:67,71 Before I was humbled I offended; therefore have I kept thy word. . . .

Psalm 126:5,6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. . . .

Jeremiah 31:8,9,15-20 Behold I will bring them from the north country, and will gather them from the ends of the earth and among them shall be the blind, and the lame, the woman with child, and she that is bringing forth, together, a great company of them returning hither. . . .

Jeremiah 50:4,5 In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Juda together: going and weeping they shall make haste, and shall seek the Lord their God. . . .

Daniel 9:3 And I set my face to the Lord, my God, to pray and make supplication with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.

Daniel 10:2,3,19 In those days I, Daniel, mourned the days of three weeks. . . .

Zechariah 12:10-14 And I will pour out upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace, and of prayers: and they shall look upon me, whom they have pierced: and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for an only son, and they shall grieve over him, as the manner is to grieve for the death of the firstborn. . . .

Luke 6:21,25 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for you shall laugh. . . .

John 16:20-22 Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. . . .

2 Corinthians 7:9-11 Now I am glad: not because you were made sorrowful, but because you were made sorrowful unto penance. For you were made sorrowful according to God, that you might suffer damage by us in nothing. . . .

James 4:8-10 Draw nigh to God: and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double minded. . . .

by

Romans 5:3,4 And not only so: but we glory also in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; . . .

2 Corinthians 4:17 For that which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation worketh for us above measure, exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.

Hebrews 12:10,11 And they indeed for a few days, according to their own pleasure, instructed us: but he, for our profit, that we might receive his sanctification. . . .

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy, when you shall fall into divers temptations: . . .