OET interlinear ECC 7:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ט֥וֹב כַּ֖עַס מִ⁠שְּׂחֹ֑ק כִּֽי בְ⁠רֹ֥עַ פָּנִ֖ים יִ֥יטַב לֵֽב

good provocation more,than_laughter that/for/because/then/when by,sadness_of face made_glad heart

The word translated as For indicates that what follows is a reason for what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: [Better grief than laughter, because a sad face can make the heart better]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

כַּ֖עַס

provocation

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of grief, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [being sad]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מִ⁠שְּׂחֹ֑ק

more,than_laughter

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of laughter, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [than to laugh]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

בְ⁠רֹ֥עַ פָּנִ֖ים

by,sadness_of face

Here, face represents “outward expression.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [with a sad expression]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יִ֥יטַב לֵֽב

made_glad heart

Here Solomon is speaking as if a person’s inner being were a heart that could be made well. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a person may be well on the inside]