What Does the Bible Say About Harboring Anger?
Here are 16 Bible verses about harboring anger, 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.
- #3Matthew 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.
- #4Colossians 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.
- #5Proverbs 14:29
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
BSBA patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- #6Proverbs 22:24-25
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
BSBDo not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man, or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
- #7Proverbs 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.
- #8Ecclesiastes 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.
- #9Proverbs 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.
- #10Proverbs 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.
- #11Proverbs 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.
- #12Psalms 37:8
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
BSBRefrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm.
- #13Leviticus 19:17-18
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
BSBYou must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
- #14Romans 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
BSBDo not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
- #15Ephesians 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.
- #16Matthew 18:21-22
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
BSBThen Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).