anger

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The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “anger” in English in this verse is translated with a variety of solutions (Bratcher / Nida says: “Since anger has so many manifestations and seems to affect so many aspects of personality, it is not strange that expressions used to describe this emotional response are so varied).”

  • Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “be warm inside”
  • Mende: “have a cut heart”
  • Mískito: “have a split heart”
  • Tzotzil: “have a hot heart”
  • Mossi: “a swollen heart”
  • Western Kanjobal: “fire of the viscera”
  • San Blas Kuna: “pain in the heart”
  • Chimborazo Highland Quichua: “not with good eye”
  • Citak: two different terms, one meaning “angry” and one meaning “offended,” both are actually descriptions of facial expressions. The former can be represented by an angry stretching of the eyes or by an angry frown. The latter is similarly expressed by an offended type of frown with one’s head lowered. (Source: Graham Ogden)

See also God’s anger.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 25:15

“With patience a ruler may be persuaded”: “With patience” is literally “with slowness to anger” and is similar to 19.11a. The literal sense matches the parallel “soft tongue” in the next line. However, in the context of persuading people in authority, most English versions say something like Revised Standard Version. “Ruler” renders a noun not used elsewhere in Proverbs; it refers to a military commander or more generally to a person of authority. “May be persuaded” renders the passive of a verb often used in the bad sense of “entice” or “deceive”; but here it is neutral, and “convince” or “persuade” are correct.

“And a soft tongue will break a bone”: “A soft tongue” means “soft words,” “gentle speech,” or “sweet words.” To “break a bone” is a figure meaning to overcome powerful resistance or strong authority. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates “Patience calms anger and soft words break resistance.” Contemporary English Version says “Patience and gentle talk can convince a ruler and overcome any problem.” The saying may also be expressed, for example, “If you speak softly and don’t get cross, you can change the inside [mind] of people who don’t want to listen to you. And you can change the thinking of headmen too.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .