Verse 9 completes the quote from the teacher’s father. These lines refer to the ancient wedding custom of the bride placing a garland of flowers or a crown on the head of the groom.

“She will place on your head a fair garland”: See 1.9 for the translation of “fair garland”.

“She will bestow on you a beautiful crown”: A “crown” is sometimes described as a beautiful headpiece, “the [special] hat worn by a king or queen.”

Translators understand verse 9 in two ways: (1) wisdom will give these symbols of honor to you, or (2) wisdom will be these symbols for you. Revised Standard Version translates according to the first understanding. Following the second interpretation we may translate, for example, “Wisdom will be for you like a beautiful wreath and splendid crown for your head.”

In languages in which wreaths and crowns are unknown we may say, for example, “Wisdom will be for you like beautiful flowers and a splendid covering for your head.”

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 .