“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 .