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The three-part pattern:

ypl

is not taken idiomatically, a pattern emerges:

PRsR;k

-Al

PérVxAm

-w

bDhÎz

-Al

r...wk

-w

wølDlShAm yIp

-Vl

vyIa

Each clause has a noun, followed by lamed, followed by another noun (in the last clause, a
noun phrase). This would lead us to the simple conclusion that there is a pattern of meaning
established in the first two clauses, and the pattern is followed or exploited in the third. The
structure is, "What A is to B and C is to D, that's what E is to F."

If we gloss the lamed preposition simply with "for" and the conjunction with "and,"

we come up with the following wooden translation:

A crucible for the silver, and a furnace for the gold,

and a man for the mouth of his praise.

Proverbs 17:3 also demonstrates this three-part pattern.

hÎwhy twø;bIl NEjOb...w bDhÎzAl r...wkw PRsR;kAl PérVxAm

This verse starts out identically with 27:21 "A crucible for the silver, and a furnace for the
gold." But in the third phrase there are three major differences between 27:21 and 17:3.
First, the third phrase in 17:3 does not have the lamed preposition; second, it has a participle
that makes the pertinent function of the crucible explicit; and third, the subject of the action
is also explicit, even though it is in the final position: "and the tester of hearts is the L

ORD

Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the third phrase in 17:3 expounds the function of the
crucible and furnace; it does not "change the subject" and make some unrelated observation
about God and human hearts. This, it seems to me, is further evidence against translating the
last clause in 27:21 "a man is proportional to his praise."

Thus the clear, simple translation of the Hebrew in 27:21 is, "A crucible for silver, a

furnace for gold, and a man for the mouth of his praise." But that's not how it's been
translated in most English versions.
The Versions
KJV, Darby, JB, ABPS:

If all the English versions, without exception, departed significantly from my

suggestion of a clear, simple translation, I would have to conclude that I am missing
something. Despite what you may have heard, I am not quite arrogant enough to seriously
say, "Coincidentally, everyone's watch but mine is five minutes fast." Fortunately for me,
the KJV has very nearly the exact translation I am proposing: "As the fining pot for silver,
and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise." Everyone's watch but mine ... and Big
Ben! ... is five minutes fast--that makes me feel better. I have also found a few others that
differed from the majority of English translations in favor of my own inclinations. Darby's