Bible Verses About Anger

Proverbs 29:11 (KJV) — "A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards."

Proverbs 29:11 (BSB) — "A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back."

Proverbs 29:11 (NIV) — "Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end."

Theme: Righteous discipline governs internal rage through silence and calm, rather than unleashing impulsive outbursts.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (KJV) — "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools."

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (BSB) — "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the bosom of a fool."

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NIV) — "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools."

Theme: Cultivating a chronic, easily provoked temper identifies a person aligned with spiritual folly.

Colossians 3:8 (KJV) — "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."

Colossians 3:8 (BSB) — "But now you must put them all away: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth."

Colossians 3:8 (NIV) — "But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."

Theme: Regenerate life requires actively discarding the carnal habits of bitter hostility and destructive speech.

Proverbs 19:11 (KJV) — "The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression."

Proverbs 19:11 (BSB) — "A man’s insight gives him patience, and his glory is to overlook an offense."

Proverbs 19:11 (NIV) — "A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense."

Theme: Mature godly wisdom manifests through emotional restraint and the noble capacity to forgive personal offenses.

Psalm 37:8 (KJV) — "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil."

Psalm 37:8 (BSB) — "Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm."

Psalm 37:8 (NIV) — "Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil."

Theme: Yielding to unrestrained indignation erodes spiritual peace and inevitably incites destructive behavior.

Ephesians 4:26 (KJV) — "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:"

Ephesians 4:26 (BSB) — "“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set while you are still angry,"

Ephesians 4:26 (WEB) — "“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,"

Theme: Legitimate emotional friction must be governed immediately by righteousnessRighteousness is the state of being aligned with God’s character, will, and moral order. In Scripture, righteousness is both a standard and a relationship — living in harmony with God’s truth and receiving the right standing He provides through grace. It reflects integrity, justice, and faithful obedience shaped by God rather than human merit. More and settled before it hardens into sinful bitterness.

Proverbs 14:29 (KJV) — "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly."

Proverbs 14:29 (BSB) — "He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly."

Proverbs 14:29 (WEB) — "He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly."

Theme: Patience in provocation reveals deep wisdom, while impetuous wrath openly showcases spiritual foolishness.

Proverbs 16:32 (KJV) — "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

Proverbs 16:32 (BSB) — "He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who rules his temper than one who captures a city."

Proverbs 16:32 (WEB) — "One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city."

Theme: True spiritual victory is demonstrated through internal self-restraint rather than outward force or aggression.

James 1:19–20 (KJV) — "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."

James 1:19–20 (BSB) — "My 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."

James 1:19–20 (WEB) — "So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God."

Theme: Unchecked human wrath is incapable of producing God's righteous character and must be restrained through quiet attentiveness.

Proverbs 15:1 (KJV) — "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."

Proverbs 15:1 (BSB) — "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Proverbs 15:1 (WEB) — "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Theme: Gracious communication defuses rising hostility, whereas provocative words inflame destructive rage.