PROV 27:2 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 25:1–29:27: This is Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the second collection of Solomon’s proverbs. These proverbs were organized and copied by men who served King Hezekiah. Most scholars divide this section into two groups. These groups differ in several ways.

The first group (chapters 25–27) has many more comparisons and admonitions. In Hebrew, most of these comparisons are metaphors in which one or more illustrations precede the topic. Some English versions change the order so that the topic precedes the illustration(s). You should follow the order that expresses the meaning naturally and effectively in your language.

In the first group, many proverbs are one verse long. As with the individual proverbs in the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (Section 10:1–22:16), they are not related to the proverbs around them. Other proverbs in this group are two or more verses long. Still others are one-verse proverbs that are closely related in theme. Proverbs in all three categories will be marked as separate paragraphs.

The second group (chapters 28–29) has more contrastive proverbs. The proverbs in this group are each one verse long. They will not be marked as separate paragraphs.

Some other headings for this section are:

More Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah (NET)

These are also wise things that Solomon said

Paragraph 27:1–2

Both of these verses warn people not to praise themselves.Longman (p. 475) says that these two proverbs are warnings against overconfidence. Hubbard, Ross, and Garrett all mention that they are directed against those who are proud, presumptuous, and arrogant. Although overconfidence and arrogance are obviously an implied basis for self-praise, the Notes have focused on the latter, along with UBS (p. 572) and Whybray (p. 379). The first line of each of these verses uses a different form of the same Hebrew verb. Verse 27:1a has the verb “praise yourself.” Verse 27:2a has “praise.”

Some languages may use the same word for both ideas. Others may use a different word such as “boast” in 27:1a, as in many English versions.

27:2

This verse warns people not to praise themselves for their own abilities or character. If a person deserves praise, it should come from other people. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^2aLet another praise you, and not your own mouth—

^2b a stranger, and not your own lips.

There is an ellipsis in 27:2b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply a word or words such as “praise” from 27:2a. For example:

^2b Let someone else compliment you. Do not do it yourself.

27:2a–b

(combined/reordered)

Do not praise yourself^(sing). It is better if other people do that.

another…a stranger: In Hebrew, these parallel terms are literally “a stranger…a foreigner.” In this context, they probably refer to a friend or colleague or perhaps a stranger who has heard reliable reports from someone else. Such a person is able to praise the reader more objectively than the reader himself.UBS, Waltke, Fox, and Whybray all point out that these parallel terms could not refer to someone who was literally a stranger or foreigner. Such a person would not have an opinion about the reader’s abilities and would be unable to comment. Another way to translate these parallel terms is:

other people…—even strangers (GNT)

your own mouth…your own lips: These parallel terms are both figures of speech. They represent the person himself. Another way to translate the first phrase is:

Don’t praise yourself. (NCV)

If your language has similar figures of speech, consider using them here.

General Comment on 27:2a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to translate these terms as representing the person and to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:

Don’t brag about yourself—let others praise you. (CEV)

27:2a

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—

Your^(sing) own mouth should not speak about how good you are. Let another person do that.
If people deserve praise, someone else should praise them, not they themselves.

27:2b

a stranger, and not your own lips.

Keep your^(sing) own lips closed so that someone else can praise you.
Praise/Compliments should come from a person’s fellowmen, not from his own mouth/tongue.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

יְהַלֶּלְ⁠ךָ֣ זָ֣ר וְ⁠לֹא־פִ֑י⁠ךָ נָ֝כְרִ֗י וְ⁠אַל־שְׂפָתֶֽי⁠ךָ

let,him_praise_you another and=not mouth_of,your_own stranger and,not lips_of,your_own

Solomon is leaving out some of the words in the second clause that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the first clause. Alternate translation: “Let a stranger praise you and not your mouth; let a foreigner praise you and not your lips”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

יְהַלֶּלְ⁠ךָ֣ זָ֣ר וְ⁠לֹא־פִ֑י⁠ךָ נָ֝כְרִ֗י וְ⁠אַל־שְׂפָתֶֽי⁠ךָ

let,him_praise_you another and=not mouth_of,your_own stranger and,not lips_of,your_own

These two clauses mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word that shows that the second phrase is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “Let a stranger praise you and not your mouth; yes, let a foreigner praise you and not your lips”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

זָ֣ר & נָ֝כְרִ֗י

another & stranger

Here, a stranger and a foreigner refer to unfamiliar people in general, not specific people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “any stranger … any foreigner” or “any other person … any outsider”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

פִ֑י⁠ךָ & שְׂפָתֶֽי⁠ךָ

mouth_of,your_own & lips_of,your_own

In this verse, mouth and lips refer to the whole person. See how you translated the same use of mouth in [4:5](../04/05.md) and lips in [23:16](../23/16.md).

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear PROV 27:2

Hebrew word order