³ Will it keep begging you for mercy?^(A)
    Will it speak to you with gentle words?

¹⁰ They say to the seers,^(A)
    “See no more visions^(B)!”
and to the prophets,
    “Give us no more visions of what is right!
Tell us pleasant things,^(C)
    prophesy illusions.^(D)

¹⁵ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,^(A)
    and a gentle tongue can break a bone.^(B)

²³ The poor plead for mercy,
    but the rich answer harshly.

15 A gentle answer^(A) turns away wrath,^(B)
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

²¹ His talk is smooth as butter,^(A)
    yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,^(B)
    yet they are drawn swords.^(C)