What Does the Bible Say About Mirth?

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 ESV / 10 helpful votes

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 ESV / 7 helpful votes

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Proverbs 14:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.

Ecclesiastes 2:2 ESV / 5 helpful votes

I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?”

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

1 John 4:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

James 4:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

Hebrews 11:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ecclesiastes 11:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Proverbs 23:29-35 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. ...

2 Peter 3:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

2 Peter 2:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

If he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

James 1:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Ephesians 5:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Acts 20:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.

Isaiah 12:1-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. ...

Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.

Job 8:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.

Revelation 3:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

James 1:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

Philippians 4:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Romans 1:26-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Luke 1:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Matthew 23:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

Matthew 16:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 10:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 6:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Zechariah 10:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior, and their hearts shall be glad as with wine. Their children shall see it and be glad; their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord.

Ezekiel 20:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Say to the forest of the Negeb, Hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you and every dry tree. The blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from south to north shall be scorched by it.

Isaiah 66:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the Lord.

Isaiah 65:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Thus says the Lord: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,’ so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all.

Ecclesiastes 11:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 10:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.

Ecclesiastes 9:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

Ecclesiastes 2:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.

Ecclesiastes 2:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.

Ecclesiastes 1:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

Proverbs 31:6-7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

Proverbs 20:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Psalm 149:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.

Psalm 104:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.

Psalm 68:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

Psalm 16:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

Nehemiah 8:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

1 Chronicles 15:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.

1 Chronicles 12:40 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

2 Samuel 6:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house.

Deuteronomy 29:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet.

Deuteronomy 5:1-33 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Not with our fathers did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today. The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire, while I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord. For you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain. He said: ...

Exodus 32:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.

Genesis 19:32-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose. The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

54 Bible Verses about Mirth

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 3:4 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 14:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 2:2 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 11:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 11:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 23:29-35 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 3:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 2:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 20:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 12:1-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Job 8:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 3:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:26-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 1:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 16:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 10:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Zechariah 10:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ezekiel 20:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 66:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 65:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 11:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 10:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 9:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 2:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 2:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 1:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 31:6-7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 149:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 104:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 68:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 16:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Nehemiah 8:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Chronicles 15:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Chronicles 12:40 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Samuel 6:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 29:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 5:1-33 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 32:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 19:32-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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