What Does the Bible Say About Anger Management?
Here are 19 Bible verses about anger management, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1Ephesians 4:26-27
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.
BSB“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold.
- #2James 1:19-20
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
BSBMy beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
- #3Proverbs 29:11
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
BSBA fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.
- #4Proverbs 19:11
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
BSBA man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
- #5James 1:20
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
BSBfor man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
- #6Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
BSBA gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- #7Ecclesiastes 7:9
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
BSBDo not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.
- #8Colossians 3:8
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
BSBBut now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
- #9Proverbs 15:18
A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
BSBA hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
- #10James 4:1-2
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
BSBWhat causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.
- #11Proverbs 16:32
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
BSBHe who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
- #12Proverbs 14:17
He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
BSBA quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.
- #13Ephesians 4:26
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
BSB“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
- #14Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
BSBGet rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.
- #15James 1:19
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
BSBMy beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- #16Psalms 37:8-9
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
BSBRefrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm. For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
- #17Matthew 5:22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
BSBBut I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
- #18Proverbs 12:16
A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
BSBA fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
- #19Proverbs 22:24
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
BSBDo not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).