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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.

and not your own mouth
This part of the verse warns against self-praise, which can lead to pride, a sin frequently condemned in Scripture.Proverbs 16:18 states, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." The historical context of the ancient Near East shows that honor and reputation were crucial, but they were best conferred by others rather than claimed by oneself. This aligns with the biblical principle that true honor comes from God and others, not self-assertion.

a stranger
The mention of a "stranger" underscores the value of impartiality in praise. Praise from a stranger can be seen as more genuine and unbiased, as they have no vested interest in flattering the individual. This concept is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus speaks of the importance of genuine recognition, as inJohn 5:44, "How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?"

and not your own lips
Reiterating the warning against self-praise, this phrase highlights the importance of restraint and modesty in speech. The Bible frequently advises believers to be cautious with their words, as seen inJames 3:5-6, which compares the tongue to a small spark that can set a great forest on fire. The cultural context of the time valued wisdom and discretion, qualities that are still esteemed in Christian teachings today. This aligns with the character of Jesus, who exemplified humility and often deflected praise to glorify the Father, as seen inJohn 8:50, "I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge."

- The verse begins with a clear invitation to humility: “Let another praise you” (Proverbs 27:2).

• Our worth is best affirmed by others rather than self-promotion (Proverbs 25:27;2 Corinthians 10:17).

• Allowing others to speak well of us shifts attention from ourselves to the God who enables every good work (Psalm 115:1;1 Corinthians 4:7).

• This posture creates space for genuine, unsolicited testimony that carries more weight than anything we could say about ourselves (Proverbs 27:21).

- The warning is explicit: resist the urge to broadcast your own achievements.

• Self-exaltation cultivates pride, which “goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18).

• Jesus underscores the danger inLuke 14:11, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled.”

• By keeping our lips from self-praise, we safeguard our witness and keep God, not ourselves, at the center (John 3:30).

- A “stranger” represents someone unbiased, not indebted to flatter us.

• Objective testimony is credible (3John 12), just as the early church sought men “of good reputation” (Acts 6:3).

• Even wounds from a friend can be faithful (Proverbs 27:6), but when outsiders commend character, the validation is unmistakable (1 Thessalonians 1:8).

- The repetition drives the lesson home: we must habitually silence self-praise.

• Jesus teaches secrecy in giving, praying, and fasting so that “your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:1-4).

•James 3:5 reminds us how easily the tongue boasts; restraint is a mark of wisdom (James 3:13).

• God Himself promises exaltation in His timing: “Humble yourselves… that He may exalt you at the proper time” (1 Peter 5:6).

Proverbs 27:2 calls for a life of quiet humility: let unsolicited voices, even those of strangers, testify to whatever is praiseworthy in you, while you deliberately keep self-promotion off your lips. In doing so, you honor God, guard your heart from pride, and gain a testimony that rings true before both people and the Lord who ultimately assigns every commendation.

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."

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