PROV 25:15 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

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

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

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

UST People can persuade leaders by being patient,
⇔ and by speaking gently people can convince those who oppose them to agree with them.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

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

WMBB (Same as above)

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

25:? Literally “With length of face”

25:? 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.

Moff An angry man is pacified by forbearance,
⇔ and gentle words abate his ire.

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.

Drby 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.
(By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh/breaks the bone. )

SLT In slowness to anger shall the prince be persuaded, and the soft tongue shall break the bones.

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

KJB-1769 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
(By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh/breaks the bone. )

KJB-1611 By long forbearing is a Prince perswaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps 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 rigorousness broken.)

Gnva A Prince is pacified by staying of anger, and a soft tongue breaketh the bones.
(A Prince is pacified by staying of anger, and a soft tongue breaketh/breaks the bones. )

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

Wycl 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 tongue shall break hardness.)

Luth Durch Geduld wird ein Fürst versöhnet, und eine linde Zunge bricht die Härtigkeit.
(Durch Geduld becomes a prince/ruler reconciled, and a/one gentle tongue breaks the hardness.)

ClVg Patientia lenietur princeps, et lingua mollis confringet duritiam.]
(Patientia lenietur prince, and tongue/language soft will_break hardness.] )

SOTN 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

25:15

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^15a Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,

^15band a gentle tongue can break a bone.

The underlined parts refer to the means by which a person can accomplish something difficult (the parts in bold print). The overall meaning is that a patient attitude and gentle words can convince a stubborn person and overcome strong opposition.

25:15a

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,

¶ Patience can persuade a leader,
¶ If someone remains patient and calm, he can persuade even a stubborn ruler.

Through patience: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as patience is literally “length of anger.” It describes the attitude and behavior of a person who interacts with others in a calm and patient way. Such a person takes a long time to become angry.

a ruler: The word that the BSB translates here as ruler may refer specifically to a military leader or administrator. (In 6:7, the BSB translated the same word as “commander.”) It may also refer generally to any leader in a position of authority. The context implies that this leader is stubborn and has strong opinions. Some other ways to translate this word are:

chief

leader

can be persuaded: In the context, this phrase implies that the leader can be convinced to change his mind and do something that he originally opposed. It is also implied that he agrees to do what the patient person recommends.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

With patience you can convince a ruler (NCV)

When a person is patient, he can convince even a stubborn leader

25:15a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ If you^(sing) show patience and gentleness when you speak to someone who has authority, it is possible that you will overcome his stubbornness so that he agrees to do what you want.

25:15b

and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

and gentle/soothing words can make a stubborn/hard-headed person change his mind.
A person who speaks gently/quietly can convince a person like that who opposes him.

and a gentle tongue: This phrase is a figure of speech (metonymy). It represents gentle, soothing, or quiet words. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

a soft tongue

gentle talk (CEV)

a person who speaks quietly and soothingly

can break a bone: In contrast to the “tongue,” a bone is the hardest part of the body. The phrase break a bone is used here as a figure of speech. It indicates that gentle speech is able to overcome strong opposition. In the context of 15:12a, it probably means a person who speaks gently can persuade even a stubborn ruler to change his mind. Some other ways to translate this figure of speech are:

General Comment on 25:15a–b

Use an idiom in your language that means “convince a stubborn person.” For example:
can get through to the hard-headed (NCV)
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
can crush strong opposition (NLT96)

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder these two lines. For example:

Patient persuasion can break down the strongest resistance and can even convince rulers. (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

בְּ⁠אֹ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם

by,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](../14/29.md). 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,a_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,a_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