1 Raja-raja 12:7

12:7 They said to him, “Today if you show a willingness to help these people and grant their request, they will be your servants from this time forward.” ¹ 

Amsal 15:1

15:1 A gentle response ²  turns away anger,

but a harsh word ³  stirs up wrath. ⁴ 

[12:7]  ¹ tn Heb “If today you are a servant to these people and you serve them and answer them and speak to them good words, they will be your servants all the days.”

[15:1]  ² tn Heb “soft answer.” The adjective רַּךְ (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.

[15:1]  ³ tn Heb “word of harshness”; KJV “grievous words.” The noun עֶצֶב (’etsev, “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).

[15:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “raises anger.” A common response to painful words is to let one’s temper flare up.