Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
Parallel translations
- WEB By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
- KJV By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
- NKJV By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.
- NASB Through patience a ruler may be persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks bone.
- NLT Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Patient persuasion and gentle speech can overcome even the strongest resistance. Soft words wield surprising power.
Overview
The proverb teaches that patience and a gentle tongue accomplish more than force, even moving a ruler. It commends self-controlled, gracious persuasion over harsh pressure (Prov 15:1). This reflects the gentle, persistent way of God's kindness that leads to repentance (Rom 2:4).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Prov 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Eccl 10:4If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
- Prov 16:14The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
- 1 Sam 25:24–44She 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.
- Gen 32:4–21He 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 Sam 25:14Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s young men informed Nabal’s wife Abigail, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he scolded them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 25:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.