This proverb may be irritating to some. Is it really true that patience has so much effect? That soft-spoken words can break (as it literally says in Hebrew) even hard bones?
Everyday life does not work like that, does it? Should we not pound our fist on the table at times and vigorously fight what is evil?
Sometimes, this may be fitting, but it remains of great importance that, in a conflict situation, we first and foremost remain calm, and that we thereby calm our own turbulent hearts.
Answering evil with evil does not help, not in great world affairs or in personal life.
This proverb therefore encourages us to react with calmness, especially to a superior. And let us not think lightly of what calm words can do. If and how they truly affect others is then not our responsibility.
In any case, by showing patience and speaking calmly, we have done our task.
It may help us to look here to Jesus, who characterized himself with, I am gentle and lowly in heart
(Matthew 11:29; compare with Matthew 21:5).
15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.