Proverbs 17:3
As silver is proved by fire, and gold is proved by a chimney, so the Lord proveth hearts.
Wycliffe Modern Spelling
In The King James Version
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
In Context
Cross References
Deuteronomy 8:2And thou shalt have mind of all the way, by which thy Lord God led thee by forty years, in (the) desert, that he should torment thee, and should assay thee; and that those things that were treated in thy soul should be known, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, either nay. (And thou shalt remember all the way, by which the Lord thy God led thee for forty years, in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to try, or to test, thee; so that those things that were treated in thy soul could be known, whether thou wouldest obey his commandments, or not.)
1 Chronicles 29:17My God, I know, that thou provest hearts, and that thou lovest simpleness, that is, lowness, or meekness, of heart; wherefore in the simpleness of mine heart, I have offered gladly all these things; and I have seen with great joy thy people, which is found here, to offer gifts to thee, (or and so with an honest heart, I have gladly offered all these things; and I have seen with great joy thy people, who be found here, to willingly offer their gifts to thee).
Job 28:1Silver hath [the] beginning of his veins (or Silver hath the beginning of its veins); and a place is to gold, in which it is welled together.
Psalms 66:10For thou, God, hast proved us; thou hast examined us by fire, as silver is examined, (or thou hast assayed us by fire, like silver is proved, or assayed).
Proverbs 21:2Each way of a man seemeth rightful to himself; but the Lord weigheth the hearts.
Isaiah 48:10Lo! I have sodden thee, but not as silver; I chose thee in the chimney of poverty. (Behold! I have tested thee, but not like silver; I chose thee in 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 →