“He who states his case first seems right”: The context is that of a legal dispute. This line says that the first person to state his argument (defense) appears to be right in the hearing of others because no opposing view has been given. We may say, for example, “The first to plead his case seems to be right.”

“Until the other comes and examines him”: “Until” is necessarily supplied by Revised Standard Version. “The other” is literally “his neighbor,” who in this setting is the accuser. “Examines him” means questions or cross-examines him for details that make his case appear contradictory. Bible en français courant translates this line “until the moment when his adversary contradicts him.” New Revised Standard Version says “until the other [person] comes and cross-examines.” See Good News Translation.

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 .