Bible Verses By Need
14 Bible Verses for Anger
God is not surprised by your anger, but He calls you higher than it. His Word shows a better way: slow to wrath, quick to listen, and free of the bitterness that anger leaves behind.
What the Bible says about anger
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
James 1:19
Three habits that starve anger: quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to burn.
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.”
Ephesians 4:26
Anger is not always sin, but do not let it settle in overnight and take root.
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1
Your words can defuse or ignite. A gentle answer cools the fire.
“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
Ruling your own temper is a greater strength than conquering a city.
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger... be put away from you, with all malice.”
Ephesians 4:31
Anger left unchecked hardens into bitterness. God offers to remove it.
“He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.”
Proverbs 14:29
Being slow to anger is here treated as a mark of real understanding, not weakness.
“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”
Proverbs 29:11
Venting everything is folly, while the wise learn to hold their spirit until the heat passes.
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
Colossians 3:8
Anger and wrath are things to be taken off like old clothing, showing you are not stuck wearing them.
“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”
Ecclesiastes 7:9
Do not let anger settle in and make a home in your heart, for it lodges most easily in fools.
“The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.”
Proverbs 19:11
There is glory, not shame, in choosing to overlook an offense and defer your anger.
“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”
Psalms 37:8
You are gently commanded to cease from anger, a reminder that with God's help it can actually be laid down.
“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
James 1:20
Human wrath never produces the righteousness of God, so anger will not build the good you long for.
“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.”
Matthew 5:22
Jesus takes anger seriously as a matter of the heart, which is why He alone can heal it at the root.
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
Romans 12:19
You can release your anger because justice belongs to God, freeing you from having to repay wrong yourself.
A prayer for anger
Father, my temper gets the better of me, and I leave damage behind. Give me a heart that is slow to anger and quick to listen. Guard my mouth. Where anger has become bitterness, root it out. Let me rule my spirit by Your Spirit, and answer even hard moments with gentleness. In Jesus' name, amen.
You do not have to face this alone
The family will pray with you, and you can hear how Christ met someone else in the same place.
Ask for prayerHear a testimonyAsk anythingFind a church near youPeople also ask
- What does the Bible say about anger?
- Scripture allows honest anger but warns against letting it lead to sin or bitterness (Ephesians 4:26,31), and praises being slow to anger (James 1:19, Proverbs 16:32).
- Is it a sin to be angry?
- Anger itself is not always sin; Ephesians 4:26 says 'be angry, and sin not.' The danger is in what anger leads to, harsh words, bitterness, and harm.
- How can I control my anger biblically?
- Be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19), give a soft answer (Proverbs 15:1), deal with anger promptly, and ask the Spirit for self-control.
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