vale of tears
This mortal existence
A vale of tears is the world regarded as a place of sorrow and suffering—life on earth as opposed to heavenly paradise.
The phrase comes from Christian tradition, where earthly existence is a trial to be endured before eternal reward.
It appears in prayers, hymns, and literary contexts: We are but pilgrims in this vale of tears.
Now often used with ironic distance or gentle mockery of melodrama.
Deep emotional distress
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
- woeGreat sorrow or distress
lamentation · misery · despair · affliction · tribulation · adversity · hardship · bereavement
Brevity of existence
- deathCessation of life
- impermanenceQuality of not lasting
- finitudeState of being bounded
- fleetingPassing very quickly
ephemeral · passing · human condition · dust · decay · frailty · brevity · temporal
Travel from place to place
- spiritualRelating to the soul
- questSeeking journey for something
- faithTrust without proof
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
penance · pilgrim · sacred · sanctuary · heaven · afterlife · salvation · redemption
sorrow
Deep emotional distress
woe · lamentation · misery · despair · affliction · tribulation · adversity · hardship · bereavement · mourning
transience
Brevity of existence
- deathCessation of life
- impermanenceQuality of not lasting
- finitudeState of being bounded
fleeting · ephemeral · passing · human condition · dust · decay · frailty · brevity · temporal · vanity
journey
Travel from place to place
devotion · penance · pilgrim · sacred · sanctuary · heaven · afterlife · salvation · redemption · deliverance
perseverance
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- burdenOppressive weight or duty
trial · ordeal · toil · survival · fortitude · patience · steadfastness · overcome · bearing · long-suffering
vale of tearsparadise
Ideal, blissful place
heaven · Eden · Garden of Eden · utopia · bliss
vale of tearsheaven
Sky or bliss
Kingdom of Heaven · paradise · eternal life · Elysian Fields · glory
vale of tearsearthly paradise
Perfect place on land
land of plenty · golden age · bed of roses · halcyon days · blessed life
tear, valley, tears, tearful, teary, valleys, teardrop, vale, teardrops