The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
Parallel translations
- KJV A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
- BSB A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
- NKJV A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.
- NASB A tranquil heart is life to the body, But jealousy is rottenness to the bones.
- NLT A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A peaceful heart gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Inner contentment promotes well-being; envy corrodes it.
Overview
This proverb links the state of the heart to bodily health, noting that tranquility brings life while envy is a wasting corrosion within. It recognizes the profound connection between our inner disposition and our whole being. The peace it commends is most fully found in Christ, who gives a peace the world cannot give (John 14:27).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Prov 17:22A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
- Prov 4:23Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
- Prov 3:8It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
- Job 5:2For resentment kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.
- Prov 12:4A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.
- Rom 1:29being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers,
- 2 Tim 1:7For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
- Ps 112:10The wicked will see it, and be grieved. He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away. The desire of the wicked will perish.
- Ps 119:80Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be disappointed. KAF
- Jas 4:5Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously”?
- Acts 7:9“The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 14:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.