16:31
The first line of this proverb describes gray hair as a symbol of honor. The second line describes how gray hair is attained.
31a Gray hair is a crown of glory;
31b it is attained along the path of righteousness.
16:31a
Gray hair is a crown of glory: This clause has two figures of speech. Gray hair is a figure of speech (metonymy). It represents old age. It is compared (metaphor) to a splendid/beautiful crown. The similarity between gray hair and a crown is that both are symbols of dignity and honor.
In some cultures, gray hair does not represent old age. If that is true in your culture, some other ways to translate this figure of speech are:
• Use a similar figure of speech. For example:
White hairs (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Silver hair (God’s Word)
• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
Old age
If a literal translation of the metaphor is not clear or natural in your language, some other ways to translate it are:
• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
Gray hair is like a crown of honor (New Century Version)
• Translate the meaning without using the figure of speech of a crown. For example:
Gray hair causes a person to be honored
-or-
People honor someone who is old
See the note on 4:9a–b, where the identical phrase “crown of beauty” is used. Also see the note on 12:4b, where “a wife of noble character” is called “her husband’s crown.”
16:31b
it is attained along the path of righteousness: This clause explains that old age is gained by means of living along the path of righteousness. Other ways to express the relationship between gray hair (old age) and a righteous life are:
it is gained as a result of a righteous life
-or-
it is a reward for consistently doing what is right
General Comment on 16:31a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder the parallel parts. See 16:31a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.
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