Proverbs 25:15
New International Version
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

New Living Translation
Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.

English Standard Version
With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

Berean Standard Bible
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

King James Bible
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

New King James Version
By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

New American Standard Bible
Through patience a ruler may be persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks bone.

NASB 1995
By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft tongue breaks the bone.

NASB 1977
By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft tongue breaks the bone.

Legacy Standard Bible
When one is slow to anger, a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft tongue breaks the bone.

Amplified Bible
By patience and a calm spirit a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft and gentle tongue breaks the bone [of resistance].

Christian Standard Bible
A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

American Standard Version
By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
In patience soothe a Ruler, and with a soft tongue break bones.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.

Contemporary English Version
Patience and gentle talk can convince a ruler and overcome any problem.

Douay-Rheims Bible
By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.

English Revised Version
By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
With patience you can persuade a ruler, and a soft tongue can break bones.

Good News Translation
Patient persuasion can break down the strongest resistance and can even convince rulers.

International Standard Version
Through patience a ruler may be persuaded; a gentle word can break a bone.

JPS Tanakh 1917
By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

Literal Standard Version
A ruler is persuaded by long-suffering, | And a soft tongue breaks a bone.

Majority Standard Bible
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

New American Bible
By patience is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone.

NET Bible
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone.

New Revised Standard Version
With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break bones.

New Heart English Bible
By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.

Webster's Bible Translation
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

World English Bible
By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.

Young's Literal Translation
By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
More Proverbs of Solomon
14Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given. 15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. 16If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.…

Cross References
Genesis 32:4
He instructed them, "You are to say to my master Esau, 'Your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now.

1 Samuel 25:24
She fell at his feet and said, "My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.

Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Ecclesiastes 10:4
If the ruler's temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.


Treasury of Scripture

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.

long

Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Proverbs 16:14
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

Genesis 32:4
And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:

the bone

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Bone Break Breaketh Breaks Broken Forbearance Forbearing Gentle Judge Long-Suffering Moved Patience Persuaded Prince Protest Ruler Soft Time Tongue Undergoes Wrongs
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Bone Break Breaketh Breaks Broken Forbearance Forbearing Gentle Judge Long-Suffering Moved Patience Persuaded Prince Protest Ruler Soft Time Tongue Undergoes Wrongs
Proverbs 25
1. observations about kings
8. and about avoiding causes of quarrels














Verse 15. - By long forbearing; i.e. by patience, calmness that does not break out into passion whatever be the provocation, even, it is implied, in the face of a false and malicious accusation (comp. Proverbs 14:29). Is a prince persuaded. Katson is rather "an arbiter," or judge, than "a prince," and the proverb says that such an officer is led to take a favourable view of an accused person's case when he sees him calm and composed, ready to explain the matter without any undue heat or irritation, keeping steadily to the point, and not seduced by calumny or misrepresentation to forget himself and lose his temper. Such a bearing presupposes innocence and weighs favourably with the judge. The LXX. makes the gnome apply to monarchs alone, "In long suffering is prosperity unto kings." A soft tongue breaketh the bone. A soft answer (Proverbs 15:1), gentle, conciliating words, overcome opposition, and disarm the most determined enemy, and make tender in him that which was hardest and most uncompromising. "Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi, sed saepe cadendo." Similar proverbs are found elsewhere, though probably in a different sense. Thus in modern Greek, "The tongue has no bones, yet it breaks bones;" in Turkish, "The tongue has no bone, yet it crushes;" again, "One drop of honey," says the Turk, "catches more bees than a ton of vinegar."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Through patience
בְּאֹ֣רֶךְ (bə·’ō·reḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 753: Length

a ruler
קָצִ֑ין (qā·ṣîn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7101: A magistrate, other leader

can be persuaded,
יְפֻתֶּ֣ה (yə·p̄ut·teh)
Verb - Pual - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6601: To open, be, roomy, to be, simple, delude

and a gentle
רַ֝כָּ֗ה (rak·kāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7390: Tender, delicate, soft

tongue
וְלָשׁ֥וֹן (wə·lā·šō·wn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular
Strong's 3956: The tongue

can break
תִּשְׁבָּר־ (tiš·bār-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces

a bone.
גָּֽרֶם׃ (gā·rem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1634: A bone, self, very


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 25:15 By patience a ruler is persuaded (Prov. Pro Pr)
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