Anger is a strong emotion – and not always wrong. The Bible knows righteous anger, even in God and Jesus. But it strongly warns against letting anger control you. Here you will find 20 Bible verses about anger and wrath and how to deal with it in a healthy way.
Keeping anger in check
Wisdom for heated moments.
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Be angry, but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. Do not give place to slander.
Ephesians 4:26-27
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Therefore, my dear brothers, be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. For the anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness that is before God.
James 1:19-20Conflict
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A gentle answer stills anger; but a harsh word stirs up wrath.
Proverbs 15:1GentlenessWords
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Whoever is patient is wise; whoever is impatient reveals their foolishness.
Proverbs 14:29Patience
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A patient person is better than a strong person, and he who is master of his own spirit is better than he who takes a city.
Proverbs 16:32Self-controlMen
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Whoever is patient is a wise person, and it is an honor to him that he can overlook wrongdoing.
Proverbs 19:11ConflictForgiveness
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A fool pours out his spirit; but a wise person keeps himself.
Proverbs 29:11Self-control
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Do not join with the angry, and do not associate with a wrathful man; you would learn his ways and damage your soul.
Proverbs 22:24-25
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Do not be quick-tempered to anger; for anger rests in the heart of a fool.
Ecclesiastes 7:9
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Turn away from anger and let go of wrath; do not be angry, so that you do not do evil.
Psalm 37:8
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But now lay aside all these things: anger, wrath, evil, slander, and shameful words from your mouth.
Colossians 3:8
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But all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander be far from you, along with all evil.
Ephesians 4:31
Righteous anger and God's patience
Anger against injustice – and God's long-suffering.
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And he looked around at them with anger and was grieved over their hardened hearts and said to the man: Stretch out your hand! And he stretched it out; and the hand was made whole like the other.
Mark 3:5
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And he made a scourge out of cords and drove them all out of the temple, along with the sheep and oxen, and poured out the money of the money changers and overthrew the tables, and said to those who were selling doves: Take this away and do not make my Father's house a house of trade!
John 2:15-16
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The LORD is merciful and gracious, patient and abundant in goodness. He will not always contend, nor will he hold his anger forever.
Psalm 103:8-9
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For his anger lasts but a moment, and his grace for a lifetime; weeping lasts for the evening, but joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:6SufferingHeartbreak
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But the LORD said: Do you think you are right to be angry?
Jonah 4:4
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Do not take vengeance yourselves, my beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay," says the LORD.
Romans 12:19ForgivenessPunishment
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But I say to you: Whoever is angry with his brother is guilty of judgment.
Matthew 5:22a
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23aGentlenessSelf-control
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
Related Topics
This goes well with it
Peace – peace – is a fruit of the Spirit and the antidote to anger. A poster as a daily reminder.
Fruit of the Spirit Poster - PeacePoster about peace as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).€12
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Fruit of the Spirit Poster - Self-ControlPoster about self-control and self-restraint as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23).€12
YHWH Shalom - Names of God PosterPoster about YHWH Shalom – "The LORD is peace" (Judges 6:24).€12
Is Anger a Sin?
Paul writes: "Be angry, but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger" (Ephesians 4:26). Anger itself is therefore not forbidden. Jesus himself becomes angry when people would rather keep to rules than help a sick person (Mark 3:5), and he drives the merchants out of the temple (John 2:15). Anger can be a healthy reaction to injustice. It becomes dangerous when it rules instead of warning – when it becomes resentful, hurtful, or vengeful. That is why there is a time limit: not overnight.
Dealing with Anger
The Bible gives practical advice: Be slow to anger (James 1:19). Give a gentle answer that stills anger (Proverbs 15:1). Do not make friends with quick-tempered people, so as not to learn their ways (Proverbs 22:24-25). And leave vengeance to God: "Do not take vengeance yourselves, my beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God" (Romans 12:19). Proverbs 16:32 says: "A patient person is better than a strong person." You can find more verses about Bible verses about self-control, Bible verses about patience, and Bible verses about conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is anger a sin?
Not in itself. Ephesians 4:26 says: "Be angry, but do not sin." Anger becomes problematic when it becomes resentful, hurtful, or vengeful.
What helps against anger according to the Bible?
React slowly (James 1:19), answer gently (Proverbs 15:1), do not leave conflicts overnight (Ephesians 4:26), and leave vengeance to God (Romans 12:19).
