Proverbs 25:15

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

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

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 15:1 : 1 A gentle response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.
  • Eccl 10:4 : 4 If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses.
  • Prov 16:14 : 14 A king’s wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it.
  • Gen 32:4-9 : 4 He commanded them,“This is what you must say to my lord Esau:‘This is what your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban until now. 5 I have oxen, donkeys, sheep, and male and female servants. I have sent this message to inform my lord, so that I may find favor in your sight.’” 6 The messengers returned to Jacob and said,“We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you and has four hundred men with him.” 7 Jacob was very afraid and upset. So he divided the people who were with him into two camps, as well as the flocks, herds, and camels. 8 “If Esau attacks one camp,” he thought,“then the other camp will be able to escape.” 9 Then Jacob prayed,“O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, you said to me,‘Return to your land and to your relatives and I will make you prosper.’ 10 I am not worthy of all the faithful love you have shown your servant. With only my walking stick I crossed the Jordan, but now I have become two camps. 11 Rescue me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, as well as the mothers with their children. 12 But you said,‘I will certainly make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand on the seashore, too numerous to count.’” 13 Jacob stayed there that night. Then he sent as a gift to his brother Esau 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16 He entrusted them to his servants, who divided them into herds. He told his servants,“Pass over before me, and keep some distance between one herd and the next.” 17 He instructed the servant leading the first herd,“When my brother Esau meets you and asks,‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? Whose herds are you driving?’ 18 then you must say,‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They have been sent as a gift to my lord Esau. In fact Jacob himself is behind us.’” 19 He also gave these instructions to the second and third servants, as well as all those who were following the herds, saying,“You must say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. 20 You must also say,‘In fact your servant Jacob is behind us.’” Jacob thought,“I will first appease him by sending a gift ahead of me. After that I will meet him. Perhaps he will accept me.” 21 So the gifts were sent on ahead of him while he spent that night in the camp.
  • 1 Sam 25:14 : 14 But one of the servants told Nabal’s wife Abigail,“David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our lord, but he screamed at them.
  • 1 Sam 25:24-44 : 24 Falling at his feet, she said,“My lord, I accept all the guilt! But please let your female servant speak to you! Please listen to the words of your servant! 25 My lord should not pay attention to this wicked man Nabal. He simply lives up to his name! His name means‘fool,’ and he is indeed foolish! But I, your servant, did not see the servants my lord sent. 26 “Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and as surely as you live, it is the LORD who has kept you from shedding blood and taking matters into your own hands. Now may your enemies and those who seek to harm my lord be like Nabal. 27 Now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the servants who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive the sin of your servant, for the LORD will certainly establish a lasting dynasty for my lord, because my lord fights the battles of the LORD. May no evil be found in you all your days! 29 When someone sets out to chase you and to take your life, the life of my lord will be wrapped securely in the bag of the living by the LORD your God. But he will sling away the lives of your enemies from the sling’s pocket! 30 The LORD will do for my lord everything that he promised you, and he will make you a leader over Israel. 31 Your conscience will not be overwhelmed with guilt for having poured out innocent blood and for having taken matters into your own hands. When the LORD has granted my lord success, please remember your servant.” 32 Then David said to Abigail,“Praised be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you this day to meet me! 33 Praised be your good judgment! May you yourself be rewarded for having prevented me this day from shedding blood and taking matters into my own hands! 34 Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives– he who has prevented me from harming you– if you had not come so quickly to meet me, by morning’s light not even one male belonging to Nabal would have remained alive!” 35 Then David took from her hand what she had brought to him. He said to her,“Go back to your home in peace. Be assured that I have listened to you and responded favorably.” 36 When Abigail went back to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his house like that of the king. Nabal was having a good time and was very intoxicated. She told him absolutely nothing until morning’s light. 37 In the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these matters. He had a stroke and was paralyzed. 38 After about ten days the LORD struck Nabal down and he died. 39 When David heard that Nabal had died, he said,“Praised be the LORD who has vindicated me and avenged the insult that I suffered from Nabal! The LORD has kept his servant from doing evil, and he has repaid Nabal for his evil deeds.” Then David sent word to Abigail and asked her to become his wife. 40 So the servants of David went to Abigail at Carmel and said to her,“David has sent us to you to bring you back to be his wife.” 41 She arose, bowed her face toward the ground, and said,“Your female servant, like a lowly servant, will wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” 42 Then Abigail quickly went and mounted her donkey, with five of her female servants accompanying her. She followed David’s messengers and became his wife. 43 David had also married Ahinoam from Jezreel; the two of them became his wives. 44 (Now Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim.)

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Prov 15:1-2
    2 verses
    77%

    1A gentle response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.

    2The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of the fool spouts out folly.

  • Prov 15:4
    74%

    4Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse speech breaks the spirit.

  • Prov 16:13-15
    3 verses
    72%

    13The delight of a king is righteous counsel, and he will love the one who speaks uprightly.

    14A king’s wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it.

    15In the light of the king’s face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds of the spring rain.

  • Prov 16:23-24
    2 verses
    72%

    23A wise person’s heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words.

    24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

  • Prov 14:29-30
    2 verses
    72%

    29Someone with great understanding is slow to anger, but the one who has a quick temper exalts folly.

    30A tranquil spirit revives the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.

  • Eccl 10:4
    71%

    4If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses.

  • Prov 29:1
    71%

    1The one who stiffens his neck after numerous rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.

  • Prov 25:16
    70%

    16You have found honey–eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up.

  • Prov 15:18
    70%

    18A quick-tempered person stirs up dissension, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.

  • Prov 16:32
    70%

    32Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city.

  • Prov 19:11-12
    2 verses
    70%

    11A person’s wisdom has made him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

    12A king’s wrath is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

  • Prov 25:14
    70%

    14Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, so is the one who boasts of a gift not given.

  • Ps 55:21
    70%

    21His words are as smooth as butter, but he harbors animosity in his heart. His words seem softer than oil, but they are really like sharp swords.

  • Prov 14:3
    69%

    3In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise protect them.

  • Prov 25:23
    69%

    23The north wind brings forth rain, and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look.

  • Prov 28:2
    69%

    2When a country is rebellious it has many princes, but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.

  • Prov 17:27
    69%

    27The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning.

  • Prov 21:23
    69%

    23The one who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his life from troubles.

  • Prov 28:23
    69%

    23The one who reproves another will in the end find more favor than the one who flatters with the tongue.

  • Prov 29:11
    69%

    11A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

  • Prov 29:20-22
    3 verses
    69%

    20You have seen someone who is hasty in his words– there is more hope for a fool than for him.

    21If someone pampers his servant from youth, he will be a weakling in the end.

    22An angry person stirs up dissension, and a wrathful person is abounding in transgression.

  • Prov 21:14
    69%

    14A gift given in secret subdues anger, and a bribe given secretly subdues strong wrath.

  • Prov 10:19
    69%

    19When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.

  • Prov 12:18
    68%

    18Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing.

  • Prov 17:7
    68%

    7Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!

  • Prov 25:11-12
    2 verses
    68%

    11Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken.

    12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.

  • Prov 28:16
    68%

    16The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom, but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

  • Job 6:25
    68%

    25How painful are honest words! But what does your reproof prove?

  • Prov 10:13
    68%

    13Wisdom is found in the words of the discerning person, but the one who lacks sense will be disciplined.

  • Prov 10:31
    68%

    31The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed.

  • Prov 7:21
    68%

    21She turned him aside with her persuasions; with her smooth talk she was enticing him along.

  • Prov 13:2
    67%

    2From the fruit of his speech a person eats good things, but the treacherous desire the fruit of violence.

  • Prov 16:21
    67%

    21The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness.

  • Prov 17:20
    67%

    20The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.

  • Prov 15:23
    67%

    23A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and a word at the right time– how good it is!

  • Prov 22:18
    67%

    18For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips.

  • Prov 12:25
    67%

    25Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy.

  • Prov 31:26
    67%

    26She has opened her mouth with wisdom, with loving instruction on her tongue.

  • Prov 13:15
    67%

    15Keen insight wins favor, but the conduct of the treacherous ends in destruction.

  • Prov 30:32
    67%

    32If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself or if you have planned evil, put your hand over your mouth!