“A hoary head is a crown of glory”: “A hoary head” is a head of gray hair associated with advanced age. “A crown of glory” is rendered “a beautiful crown” in 4.9, where it is a gift of wisdom. This line expresses the special respect reserved for the elderly, as they were considered to be a source of wisdom.

“It is gained in a righteous life” is literally “it is found in the way of righteousness.” This line connects old age with good conduct or right living. Proverbs repeats many times that the righteous enjoy a long life, but the wicked die before their time. So the long life seen in the image of the gray head is a reward for right living. Contemporary English Version says “Gray hair is a glorious crown worn by those who have lived right.” See Good News Translation, which reverses the two lines. The whole verse may also be expressed as “Right-living people get their reward—gray hair like the beautiful hat of a king.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .