And they said to him: If thou please this people, and soothe them with kind words, they will be thy servants for ever.

And they speak unto him, saying, 'If thou dost become good to this people, and hast been pleased with them, and spoken unto them good words, then they have been to thee servants all the days.'

And they said to him, If you are kind to this people, pleasing them and saying good words to them, then they will be your servants for ever.

And they said to him, "If you please this people, and if you soothe them with words of clemency, they will be your servants for all days."

If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them--In the Book of Kings [1-Kings 12:7], the words are, "If thou wilt be a servant unto this people, and wilt serve them." The meaning in both is the same, namely, If thou wilt make some reasonable concessions, redress their grievances, and restore their abridged liberties, thou wilt secure their strong and lasting attachment to thy person and government.

If thou be kind, &c. - Moderate counsels are generally best. Gentleness will do what violence will not do. Good words cost nothing but a little self - denial, and yet they purchase great things.