PRO 25:15 Parallel View

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Key: yellow:verbs.
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ULT By length of nostrils a commander may be persuaded,
 ⇔ and a soft tongue can break bone.

UST People can persuade officers by acting patiently,
⇔ and by speaking gently people can convince those who oppose them to agree with them.

BSB  ⇔ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
⇔ and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

OEB An angry man can be won by forbearance,
⇔ and bones can be broken by gentle words.

WEB By patience a ruler is persuaded.
⇔ A soft tongue breaks the bone.

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

LSV A ruler is persuaded by long-suffering,
And a soft tongue breaks a bone.

FBV If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.[fn]

25:15 “Break down opposition”: literally “break bones,” in other words, have a powerful effect.

T4T  ⇔ If someone keeps requesting a ruler long enough to do something, he will often agree to do it;
⇔ similarly, by speaking [MTY] gently we can often convince others that what we say is right [IDM].

LEB • [fn] a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.[fn]

?:? Literally “With length of face”

?:? Or “strength”

BBE A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.

MOF No MOF PRO book available

JPS By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

ASV By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded,
 ⇔ And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

DRA By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.

YLT By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.

DBY By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

RV By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

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

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

BB With pacience is a prince pacified, and with a softe tongue is rigorousnesse broken.
(With patience is a prince pacified, and with a softe tongue is rigorousnesse broken.)

GNV A Prince is pacified by staying of anger, and a soft tongue breaketh the bones.

CB With pacience maye a prynce be pacified, & wt a soft tonge maye rigorousnes be broke.
(With patience may a prynce be pacified, and with a soft tongue may rigorousnes be broke.)

WYC A prince schal be maad soft bi pacience; and a soft tunge schal breke hardnesse.
(A prince shall be made soft by patience; and a soft tunge shall breke hardnesse.)

LUT Durch Geduld wird ein Fürst versöhnet, und eine linde Zunge bricht die Härtigkeit.
(Durch Geduld becomes a Fürst versöhnet, and one linde Zunge bricht the Härtigkeit.)

CLV Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.]
(Patientia lenietur princeps, and lingua mollis confringet duritiam.] )

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

BrLXX Ἐν μακροθυμίᾳ εὐοδία βασιλεῦσι, γλῶσσα δὲ μαλακὴ συντρίβει ὀστᾶ.
(En makrothumia euodia basileusi, glōssa de malakaʸ suntribei osta. )

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

בְּ⁠אֹ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם

in/on/at/with,length_of tempers

The phrase length of nostrils refers to being patient and not getting angry quickly. The word nostrils means “anger” by association with the way that a person who is angry breathes heavily through his nose, causing his nostrils to open wide. Your language and culture may also associate anger with a particular part of the body. If so, you could use an expression involving that part of the body in your translation. You could also use plain language. See how you translated the similar phrase “long of nostrils” in 14:29. Alternate translation: “By not venting one’s spleen” or “By not getting angry quickly”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

יְפֻתֶּ֣ה קָצִ֑ין

persuaded ruler

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “someone may persuade a commander”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

קָצִ֑ין וְ⁠לָשׁ֥וֹן רַ֝כָּ֗ה תִּשְׁבָּר־גָּֽרֶם

ruler and,tongue soft break bone

Here, a commander, a soft tongue, and a bone refer to these people and things in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “any commander … and any soft tongue can break any bone”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וְ⁠לָשׁ֥וֹן רַ֝כָּ֗ה

and,tongue soft

Here, Solomon is speaking of something spoken in a gentle manner as if someone were speaking with a soft tongue. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and speaking gently”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

תִּשְׁבָּר־גָּֽרֶם

break bone

Here, Solomon speaks of overcoming strong opposition as if someone were breaking a bone. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “can overcome opposition”

Parallel PRO 25:15