Proverbs 25:15

NETBible

Through patience 1  a ruler can be persuaded, 2  and a soft tongue 3  can break a bone. 4 

NIV ©

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

NASB ©

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

NLT ©

Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can crush strong opposition.

MSG ©

Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.

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.

NRSV ©

With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break bones.

NKJV ©

By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

KJV
By long
<0753>
forbearing
<0639>
is a prince
<07101>
persuaded
<06601> (8792)_,
and a soft
<07390>
tongue
<03956>
breaketh
<07665> (8799)
the bone
<01634>_.
NASB ©
By forbearance
<753>
<639> a ruler
<7101>
may be persuaded
<6601>
, And a soft
<7390>
tongue
<3956>
breaks
<7665>
the bone
<1634>
.
LXXM
(32:15) en
<1722> 
PREP
makroyumia
<3115> 
N-DSF
euodia
<2136> 
N-NSF
basileusin
<935> 
N-DPM
glwssa
<1100> 
N-NSF
de
<1161> 
PRT
malakh
<3120> 
A-NSF
suntribei
<4937> 
V-PAI-3S
osta
<3747> 
N-APN
NET [draft] ITL
Through patience
<0639>

<0753>
a ruler
<07101>
can be persuaded
<06601>
, and a soft
<07390>
tongue
<03956>
can break
<07665>
a bone
<01634>
.
HEBREW
Mrg
<01634>
rbst
<07665>
hkr
<07390>
Nwslw
<03956>
Nyuq
<07101>
htpy
<06601>
Mypa
<0639>
Krab (25:15)
<0753>
NETBible

Through patience 1  a ruler can be persuaded, 2  and a soft tongue 3  can break a bone. 4 

NET Notes

1 tn Heb “long of anger” or “forbearance” (so NASB).

2 tn The two imperfect verbs in this line may be nuanced as potential imperfects because what is described could happen, but does not do so as a rule.

3 tn The “tongue” is a metonymy of cause; and so the expression here refers to soft or gentle speech. This fits well with the parallel idea of patience (“long of anger”) – through a calm patient persuasion much can be accomplished. Some English versions relate this figure directly to the persuasion of a ruler in the previous line (cf. TEV “can even convince rulers”).

4 sn The idea of breaking a bone uses the hardest and most firm part of the body in contrast to the “softness of the tongue.” Both are figurative, forming a comparison. A gentle speech can break down any stiff opposition.