Flunking the Test

(Proverbs 27:21 KJV)  As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

The NASB adds a word here.  Compare the following,

(Proverbs 27:21 NAS77)  The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is tested by the praise accorded him.

“Tested” is not in the Hebrew so we have a simple parallel statement here.  The KJV is much better because it follows the Hebrew with no additions.  As a “fining pot” (crucible NASB) (4715) is to silver, as a “furnace” (3564a) is to gold, so “praise” (4110) is to a man.  This seems to be a common construction in Hebrew, leaving us to fill in the similarities.

I see these little additions sneaking in all through modern translations.  The purpose is to clarify and that is a noble goal but it still tends to adulterate the word of God. 

Take another place that comes to mind and here the KJV is just as guilty as the NASB.

(Ephesians 5:22 KJV)  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

In the Greek the word “submit” is not present.  It is inferred from the previous verse.  Adding a word to clarify actually waters the truth down.  What it should say is, “Wive, be to your husbands as you are to the Lord.”  This is more powerful because it does not limit the relationship to submission.  It includes all of the nuances of love and commitment.

So?  Look for the translation and understanding that takes the harder road.  It may demand more, but it is the path of righteousness.