Proverbs 17:3
As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
Brenton Septuagint
In The King James Version
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
In Context
2A wise servant shall have rule over foolish masters, and shall divide portions among brethren.
4A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
Cross References
Deuteronomy 8:2And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee in the wilderness, that he might afflict thee, and try thee, and that the things in thine heart might be made manifest, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no.
1 Chronicles 29:17And I know, Lord, that thou art he that searches the hearts, and thou lovest righteousness. I have willingly offered all these things in simplicity of heart; and now I have seen with joy thy people here present, willingly offering to thee.
Job 28:1For there is a place for the silver, whence it comes, and a place for the gold, whence it is refined.
Proverbs 21:2Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
Isaiah 48:10Behold, I have sold thee, but not for silver; but I have rescued thee from the furnace of affliction.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 17:3
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. Note, 1. True merit does not go by dignity. All agree that the son in the family is more worthy than the servant ( John viii. 35 ), and yet sometimes it so happens that the servant is wise, and a blessing and credit to the family, when the son is a fool, and a burden and shame to the family. Eliezer of Damascus, though Abram could not bear to think that he should be his heir, was a stay to the… Read the whole commentary →