Verse of the Day
Author Spotlight
Loading featured author...
Report Issue
See a formatting issue or error?
Let us know →
The crucible is for silver, And the furnace for gold; But man is refined by his praise.
Verse Takeaways
1
Praise Is a Character Test
All commentators agree on the central analogy: just as a furnace tests the purity of gold, praise tests a person's character. Your reaction reveals your true nature. As Charles Spurgeon warns, while many can bear adversity, the 'breath of applause' can lead to the 'fever of pride.' John Gill adds that a wise person remains humble and gives glory to God, while a foolish person is puffed up by praise.
See 3 Verse Takeaways
Book Overview
Proverbs
Author
Audience
Composition
Teaching Highlights
Outline
+ 5 more
See Overview
5
18th Century
Presbyterian
So is ... - Better, So let a man be to his praise, let him purify it from all the alloy of flattery and baseness with which it is very likel…
19th Century
Anglican
So is a man to his praise—that is, just as the fining-pot and furnace test the metals put into them, so too that on which a man pr…
Baptist
Many a man, who can bear adversity, cannot bear prosperity.
The world's censures seldom do a Christian any harm, but it is the breath of appl…
Consider supporting our work
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
[As] the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold For the trying, proving, and purifying these metals; see ([…
Silver and gold are tested by putting them into the furnace and refining pot; so is a man tested by praising him.
