Proverbs 27:2
New International Version
Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.

New Living Translation
Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth— a stranger, not your own lips.

English Standard Version
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

Berean Standard Bible
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.

King James Bible
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

New King James Version
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.

New American Standard Bible
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.

NASB 1995
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.

NASB 1977
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.

Legacy Standard Bible
Let a stranger praise you, and not your own mouth; A foreigner, and not your own lips.

Amplified Bible
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.

Christian Standard Bible
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth — a stranger, and not your own lips.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.

American Standard Version
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.

Contemporary English Version
Don't brag about yourself--let others praise you.

English Revised Version
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Praise should come from another person and not from your own mouth, from a stranger and not from your own lips.

Good News Translation
Let other people praise you--even strangers; never do it yourself.

International Standard Version
Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth; a stranger, and never your own lips.

Majority Standard Bible
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.

NET Bible
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.

New Heart English Bible
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let another man praise thee, and not thy own mouth; a stranger, and not thy own lips.

World English Bible
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth, "" A stranger, and not your own lips.

Young's Literal Translation
Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth, A stranger, and not thine own lips.

Smith's Literal Translation
A stranger shall praise thee, and not thy mouth; a stranger, and not thy lips.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let another praise thee, and not thy own mouth: a stranger, and not thy own lips.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth: an outsider, and not your own lips.

New American Bible
Let another praise you, not your own mouth; a stranger, not your own lips.

New Revised Standard Version
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let a stranger praise you, and not your own mouth; another, and not your own lips.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Let a stranger praise you, and not your own mouth, and another, and not your own lips.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Let thy neighbour, and not thine own mouth, praise thee; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Do not Boast about Tomorrow
1Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. 2Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips. 3A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.…

Cross References
James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Matthew 6:1-4
“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. / So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. / But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ...

2 Corinthians 10:17-18
Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” / For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

1 Peter 5:5-6
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” / Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. / But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Romans 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.

1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Galatians 6:3-4
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. / Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else.

Psalm 75:6-7
For exaltation comes neither from east nor west, nor out of the desert, / but it is God who judges; He brings down one and exalts another.

Proverbs 25:27
It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.

Proverbs 12:9
Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food.


Treasury of Scripture

Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

2 Chronicles 25:27
Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.

2 Corinthians 10:12,18
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise…

2 Corinthians 12:11
I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

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Proverbs 27
1. observations of self love
5. of true love
11. of care to avoid offenses
23. and of the household care














Let another praise you
The Hebrew word for "praise" here is "halal," which means to boast or to shine. In the context of ancient Israel, praise was often associated with public acknowledgment of one's deeds or character. The wisdom literature of the Bible frequently emphasizes humility and the dangers of pride. By instructing that another should offer praise, the verse underscores the value of humility and the importance of external validation over self-promotion. This aligns with the broader biblical teaching that true honor comes from God and others, not from self-aggrandizement.

and not your own mouth
The phrase "your own mouth" serves as a caution against self-praise, which can lead to arrogance and a lack of credibility. In the cultural and historical context of the Bible, one's reputation was often established through the testimony of others. The mouth, as a symbol of speech and communication, is a powerful tool that can either build up or tear down. The admonition here is to exercise restraint and allow one's actions to speak louder than words, reflecting the biblical principle that humility precedes honor (Proverbs 15:33).

a stranger
The term "stranger" in Hebrew is "zar," which can refer to someone outside one's immediate community or family. This highlights the impartiality and objectivity that comes from receiving praise from someone who has no vested interest in flattering or currying favor. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a stranger's commendation would carry significant weight, as it would be seen as unbiased and genuine. This reinforces the idea that true recognition is best when it comes from those who are not obligated to give it.

and not your own lips
The repetition of the idea with "your own lips" serves to emphasize the importance of humility and the avoidance of self-promotion. Lips, as instruments of speech, are often used in the Bible to symbolize the expression of one's inner thoughts and intentions. By advising against using one's own lips for self-praise, the verse encourages believers to cultivate a spirit of modesty and to trust that their good deeds will be recognized in due time by others, and ultimately by God. This aligns with the teachings of Jesus, who warned against performing acts of righteousness to be seen by others (Matthew 6:1).

(2) Let another man (zar) praise thee . . . a stranger (nokhri).--As to the difference between these words, see above on Proverbs 2:16. A higher consideration than this is suggested in 2Corinthians 10:18.

Verse 2. - Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; Septuagint, "Let thy neighbour (ὁ πέλας) laud thee." A stranger; גָכְרִי, properly, "an unknown person from an unknown country;" but, like זר in the former hemistich, used indifferently for "another" (see on Proverbs 2:16). "If I honour myself," said our Lord (John 8:54), "my honour is nothing" And as St. Paul testifies (2 Corinthians 10:18), "Not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth."

Υπὲρ σαευτοῦ μὴ φράσῃς ἐγκώμια

said the Greek gnomist; and

Φίλων ἔπαινον μᾶλλον η} σαυτοῦ λέγε. And a trite maxim runs, "In ore proprio laus sordet;" and an English one decides, "He who praises himself is a debtor to others." Delitzsch quotes a German proverb (which loses the jingle in translation), "Eigen-lob stinkt, Freundes Lob hinkt, fremdes Lob klingt," "Self-praise stinks, friends' praise limps, strangers' praise sounds."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Let another
זָ֣ר (zār)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2114: To turn aside, to be a, foreigner, strange, profane, to commit adultery

praise you,
יְהַלֶּלְךָ֣ (yə·hal·lel·ḵā)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1984: To shine

and not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

your own mouth—
פִ֑יךָ (p̄î·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

a stranger,
נָ֝כְרִ֗י (nā·ḵə·rî)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5237: Foreign, alien

and not
וְאַל־ (wə·’al-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

your own lips.
שְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃ (śə·p̄ā·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - fdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 27:2 Let another man praise you and not (Prov. Pro Pr)
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