“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth”: “Praise” translates a form of the same verb rendered “boast” in verse 1. This word links the two verses. “You” is the same as in verse 1, and should be translated as suggested there. “Praise” is sometimes rendered, for example, “to speak highly of” or “to say that you are great.” “Not your own mouth” may be expressed as “and not yourself” or “and don’t praise yourself.”

“A stranger, and not your own lips”: “A stranger” probably does not refer to someone who does not know you, because such an outsider would not be familiar enough to express an opinion. “Stranger” is parallel with “another” in line 1 just as “your own lips” is parallel with “your own mouth”, and means any person other than yourself. Contemporary English Version translates “Don’t brag about yourself—let others praise you.” The saying may also be expressed “If other people praise you, that’s all right. But it is not good to do it yourself.”

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 .