Anxiety ¹  in a person’s heart ²  weighs him down, ³  but an encouraging ⁴  word brings him joy. ⁵ 

biblegateway Pro 12:25

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up.

A person’s anxiety will weigh him down, but an encouraging word makes him joyful.

biblegateway Pro 12:25

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

bibleoremus Pro 12:25

Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up.

An anxious heart is dispiriting; a kind word brings cheerfulness.

biblegateway Pro 12:25

Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

biblegateway Pro 12:25

Anxiety ¹  in a person’s heart ²  weighs him down, ³  but an encouraging ⁴  word brings him joy. ⁵ 

¹ tn The word “anxiety” (דְּאָגָה, dÿ’agah) combines anxiety and fear – anxious fear (e.g., Jer 49:23; Ezek 4:16); and for the verb (e.g., Ps 38:18; Jer 17:8).

² tn Heb “the heart of a man.”

³ tn Heb “bows it [= his heart] down.” Anxiety weighs heavily on the heart, causing depression. The spirit is brought low.

⁴ tn Heb “good.” The Hebrew word “good” (טוֹב, tov) refers to what is beneficial for life, promotes life, creates life or protects life. The “good word” here would include encouragement, kindness, and insight – the person needs to regain the proper perspective on life and renew his confidence.

⁵ tn Heb “makes it [= his heart] glad.” The similarly sounding terms יַשְׁחֶנָּה (yashkhennah, “weighs it down”) and יְשַׂמְּחֶנָּה (yÿsammÿkhennah, “makes it glad”) create a wordplay (paronomasia) that dramatically emphasizes the polar opposite emotional states: depression versus joy.