Proverbs 15:1

New English Translation

15 A gentle response^[a] turns away anger,
but a harsh word^[b] stirs up wrath.^[c]

Proverbs 15:1 tn Heb “soft answer.” The adjective רַךְ (rakh, “soft; tender; gentle”; BDB 940 s.v.) is more than a mild response; it is conciliatory, an answer that restores good temper and reasonableness (W. McKane, Proverbs [OTL], 477). Gideon illustrates this kind of answer (Judg 8:1-3) that brings peace.
Proverbs 15:1 tn Heb “word of harshness”; KJV “grievous words.” The noun עֶצֶב (ʿetsev, “pain, hurt”) functions as an attributive genitive. The term עֶצֶב refers to something that causes pain (BDB 780 s.v. I עֶצֶב). For example, Jephthah’s harsh answer led to war (Judg 12:1-6).
Proverbs 15:1 tn Heb “raises anger.” A common response to painful words is to let one’s temper flare up.

Proverbs 15:1

American Standard Version

15 A soft answer turneth away wrath;
But a grievous word stirreth up anger.

²⁸The heart^[a] of the righteous considers^[b] how^[c] to answer,^[d]
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.^[e]

Proverbs 15:28 tn Or “mind.” The term לֵב (lev) can refer to the “mind” or “heart” and represent a person’s thinking, feeling, or will.
Proverbs 15:28 tn The verb יֶהְגֶּה (yehgeh) means “to muse; to meditate; to consider; to study.” It also involves planning, such as with the wicked “planning” a vain thing (Ps 2:1, which is contrasted with the righteous who “meditate” in the law [1:2]).
Proverbs 15:28 tn The word “how” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
Proverbs 15:28 tc The LXX reads: “the hearts of the righteous meditate faithfulness.”sn The advice of the proverb is to say less but better things. The wise—here called the righteous—are cautious in how they respond to others. They think about it (heart = mind) before speaking.
Proverbs 15:28 sn The form is plural. What they say (the “mouth” is a metonymy of cause) is any range of harmful things.

²⁸The heart of the righteous studieth to answer;
But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

New English Translation (NET)

American Standard Version (ASV)