A curated set of Bible verses on anger and wrath, organized for quick reference. Each verse is in the King James Version and linked to BibleGateway for the surrounding context. For the longer treatment, see our full article on what the Bible says about anger.
Be slow to anger
“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 KJV
“He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” — Proverbs 14:29 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 KJV
“The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.” — Proverbs 19:11 KJV
Paul on handling anger
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” — Ephesians 4:26–27 KJV
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” — Ephesians 4:31–32 KJV
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” — Colossians 3:8 KJV
“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 KJV
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” — Romans 12:17–18 KJV
Proverbs on the angry
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” — Proverbs 15:1 KJV
“A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” — Proverbs 15:18 KJV
“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.” — Proverbs 22:24–25 KJV
“An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” — Proverbs 29:22 KJV
“A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.” — Proverbs 12:16 KJV
“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” — Proverbs 25:28 KJV
Jesus and righteous anger
“And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand.” — Mark 3:5 KJV
“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers.” — Matthew 21:12 KJV
God’s anger and mercy
“The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” — Exodus 34:6–7 KJV
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5 KJV
“He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” — Micah 7:18 KJV
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” — Romans 5:9 KJV
Self-control as fruit of the Spirit
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” — Galatians 5:22–23 KJV
“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” — Hebrews 12:15 KJV
A short word
The Bible’s instruction on anger is not never feel it but handle it well. The wise person slows down, names the source honestly, and refuses to let the sun set on it. The Spirit grows self-control in believers over time.
For the longer pastoral walk — when anger is righteous, the difference between sudden heat (thymos) and settled grudge (orgē), and a concrete pattern for handling anger as a Christian — see our full article on what the Bible says about anger. And to hear these verses in context, The Context Bible opens up five lenses on every verse. Open it in your browser or download free.
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” — Proverbs 15:1 KJV
