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Proverbs 15:1
New American Standard Bible

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

15 A (A)gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a [a](B)harsh word stirs up anger.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:1 Lit painful
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Proverbs 15:1
New English Translation

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

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Footnotes

  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. Proverbs 15:1 tn Heb “raises anger.” A common response to painful words is to let one’s temper flare up.
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Proverbs 14
Proverbs 16
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Proverbs 17:27
New American Standard Bible

27 One who (A)withholds his words [a]has knowledge,
And one who has a (B)cool spirit is a person of understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:27 Lit knows
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Proverbs 17:27
New English Translation

27 The truly wise person[a] restrains[b] his words,
and the one who stays calm[c] is discerning.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:27 tn Heb “the one knowing knowledge.” The cognate accusative underscores the meaning of the participle—this is a truly knowledgeable person.
  2. Proverbs 17:27 sn The participle חוֹשֵׂךְ (khosekh) means “withholds; restrains; refrains; spares; holds in check,” etc. One who has knowledge speaks carefully.
  3. Proverbs 17:27 tn Heb “cool of spirit.” This genitive of specification describes one who is “calm” (so NCV, TEV, CEV) or “even-tempered” (so NIV, NLT); he is composed.
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Proverbs 16
Proverbs 18
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Proverbs 25:15
New American Standard Bible

15 Through [a](A)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
And a gentle tongue breaks bone.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:15 Lit length of anger
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Proverbs 25:15
New English Translation

15 Through patience[a] a ruler can be persuaded,[b]
and a soft tongue[c] can break a bone.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:15 tn Heb “long of anger” or “forbearance” (so NASB).
  2. Proverbs 25:15 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. Proverbs 25:15 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. Proverbs 25:15 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.
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Proverbs 24
Proverbs 26
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