Proverbs 27:21

21. Fining pot A crucible.

So is a man to his praise Or in respect to the praise bestowed upon him. Praise develops his true character. Many men cannot bear it. “They are puffed up,” and shown to be drossy or impure. Zockler gives the latter clause thus: “But a man according to his glorying;” that is, if he glories in praiseworthy things, he is praiseworthy, but if in base things, he is base. A good sense, which is also that of some others. “The meaning is, a man’s taste, or, as that is an inactive term, his praisings, work back upon him as thoroughly as a fining pot upon ore of silver.” Miller. Compare Proverbs 19:3; Proverbs 12:8, in the Hebrew. The Septuagint has, for the latter clause: “A man is tried by the mouth of them that praise him.”