Ecclesiastes 7:3

“Sorrow [is] better than laughter, etc.] Sorrow, expressed in the house of mourning, is better, more useful and commendable, than that foolish laughter, and those airs of levity, expressed in the house of feasting; or sorrow on account of affliction and troubles, even adversity itself, is oftentimes much more profitable, and conduces more to the good of men, than prosperity; or sorrow for sin, a godly sorrow, a sorrow after a godly sort, which works repentance unto salvation, that needeth not to be repented of, is to be preferred to all carnal mirth and jollity. It may be rendered, “anger [is] better than laughter”f155; which the Jews understand of the anger of God in correcting men for sin;…”

“Sorrow--such as arises from serious thoughts of eternity. laughter--reckless mirth (Ecc 2:2). by the sadness . . . better-- (Psa 126:5-6; Co2 4:17; Heb 12:10-11). MAURER translates: "In sadness of countenance there is (may be) a good (cheerful) heart." So Hebrew, for "good," equivalent to "cheerful" (Ecc 11:9); but the parallel clause supports English Version.”

“Sorrow - Rather, Seriousness. The heart is made better - i. e., is made bright and joyful (compare 2 Corinthians 6:10). The mind which bears itself equally in human concerns, whether they be pleasant or sorrowful, must always be glad, free, and at peace. return to 'Top of Page'”

“7:3-4 refining influence: Thinking soberly about death leads us to see the severity of God’s curse on sin and convinces us of the need to enjoy life wisely (9:10).”

“Sorrow: or, Anger is better: Psa 119:67, Psa 119:71, Psa 126:5, Psa 126:6; Jer 31:8, Jer 31:9, Jer 31:15-20, Jer 50:4, Jer 50:5; Dan. 9:3-19; Dan 10:2, Dan 10:3, Dan 10:19; Zac 12:10-14; Luk 6:21, Luk 6:25; Joh 16:20-22; Co2 7:9-11; Jam 4:8-10 by: Rom 5:3, Rom 5:4; Co2 4:17; Heb 12:10, Heb 12:11; Jam 1:2-4 Ecclesiastes 7:4”

“The joy of life must thus be not riot and tumult, but a joy tempered with seriousness: "Better is sorrow than laughter: for with a sad countenance it is well with the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, and the heart of fools in the house of mirth." Grief and sorrow, כּעס, whether for ourselves or occasioned by others, is better, viz., morally better, than extravagant merriment; the heart is with רע פּ (inf. as רע, Jer 7:6; cf. פן ר, Gen 40:7; Neh 2:2), a sorrowful countenance, better than with laughter, which only masks the feeling of disquiet peculiar to man, Pro 14:13. Elsewhere לב ייטב = "the heart is (may be) of good cheer," e.g., Rut 3:7; Jdg 19:6; here also…”