King James Version

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

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Hebrew

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מַֽעֲנֶהmaanehanswerמַעֲנֶהnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “answer”, the ordinary formH4617a reply (favorable or contradictory)answer, [idiom] himself.רַּ֭ךְrakhtender (literally or figuratively)רַךְadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “tender (literally or figuratively)”, the ordinary formH7390tender (literally or figuratively); by implication, weakfaint((-hearted), soft, tender ((-hearted), one), weak.יָשִׁ֣יבyashivagainשׁוּבverb, hiphil, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “again”, an unfinished actionH7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again,…חֵמָ֑הchemahangerחֵמָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “anger”, the ordinary formH2534heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)anger, bottles, hot displeasure, furious(-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath(-ful). See H2529 (חֶמְאָה).וּדְבַרudevarand causeדָּבָרconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “and cause”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a causeact, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dea…עֶ֝֗צֶבetsevgrievousעֶצֶבnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “grievous”, the ordinary formH6089an earthen vessel; usually (painful) toil; also a pang (whether of body or mind)grievous, idol, labor, sorrow.יַעֲלֶהyaalehascend upעָלָהverb, hiphil, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “ascend up”, an unfinished actionH5927to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurativearise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make t…אָֽףaffaceאַףnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “face”, the ordinary formH639properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ireanger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

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

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Young’s Literal Translation

A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger.

World English Bible

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

Darby Translation

A soft answer turneth away fury; but a grievous word stirreth up anger.

Douay-Rheims

A mild answer breaketh wrath: but a harsh word stirreth up fury.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

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

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Anger slays even wise men; yet a submissive answer turns away wrath: but a grievous word stirs up anger.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὀργὴ ἀπόλλυσι καὶ φρονίμους, ἀπόκρισις δὲ ὑποπίπτουσα ἀποστρέφει θυμὸν, λόγος δὲ λυπηρὸς ἐγείρει ὀργάς.