na.khe describes a spirit brought low in Proverbs’ contrasts between joy and inner distress.

Across the three Proverbs sayings, the adjective characterizes a spirit in a severely diminished condition: sorrow crushes it, its condition contrasts with a joyful heart, and it is portrayed as difficult to bear.

1. A spirit brought low by inner distress · dominant

   In Proverbs 15:13, the feminine singular absolute form occurs in the contrast where sorrow of heart leaves the spirit crushed. Proverbs 17:22 again contrasts a joyful heart with a crushed spirit, while Proverbs 18:14 asks who can bear up a broken spirit; together these clauses show the same afflicted inner condition.

   Proverbs 15:13Proverbs 17:22Proverbs 18:14

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the surrounding clauses with “crushed spirit” in Proverbs 15:13 and Proverbs 17:22, and “broken spirit” in Proverbs 18:14. These phrases indicate the verses’ portrayal rather than a fixed English rendering of the term.