Anger is one of the most powerful emotions we experience, and one of the most dangerous when left unchecked. It can erupt suddenly over a perceived injustice, simmer slowly into bitterness, or explode in ways that destroy relationships and leave lasting damage. Whether your anger is righteous indignation over real wrongs or a sinful reaction to not getting your way, how you handle it reveals a lot about your character and your walk with God.
The Bible doesn’t condemn all anger as sinful. God Himself gets angry at injustice, oppression, and evil. Jesus overturned tables in the temple. But Scripture draws a clear line between righteous anger that motivates justice and sinful anger that seeks revenge, destroys relationships, and controls us rather than us controlling it. Most of our anger, if we’re honest, falls into the second category.
These verses speak directly to anger: how to control it, when it crosses into sin, what to do when you’re furious, and how to process anger in ways that honor God rather than damage people. When you’re angry, these Scriptures can interrupt the spiral toward regrettable words and actions.
Bible Verses To Read When Angry
1. James 1:19-20 – Slow to Become Angry
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
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2. Ephesians 4:26-27 – In Your Anger Do Not Sin
In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
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3. Proverbs 15:1 – A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
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4. Proverbs 29:11 – Fools Give Full Vent to Their Rage
Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
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5. Proverbs 14:29 – Whoever Is Patient Has Great Understanding
Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
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6. Colossians 3:8 – Rid Yourselves of Anger and Rage
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
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7. Proverbs 19:11 – A Person’s Wisdom Yields Patience
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
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8. Psalm 37:8 – Refrain From Anger and Turn From Wrath
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
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9. Proverbs 16:32 – Better a Patient Person Than a Warrior
Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.
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10. Ecclesiastes 7:9 – Do Not Be Quickly Provoked
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
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11. Proverbs 22:24-25 – Do Not Make Friends With a Hot-Tempered Person
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
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12. Matthew 5:22 – Anyone Who Is Angry With a Brother
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
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13. Proverbs 15:18 – A Hot-Tempered Person Stirs Up Conflict
A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
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14. Romans 12:19 – Do Not Take Revenge
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
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15. Proverbs 25:28 – Like a City Whose Walls Are Broken Through
Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
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16. Galatians 5:19-20 – The Acts of the Flesh Are Obvious
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions.
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17. Proverbs 12:16 – Fools Show Their Annoyance at Once
Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
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18. Matthew 5:44 – Love Your Enemies
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
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19. Proverbs 17:14 – Starting a Quarrel Is Like Breaching a Dam
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
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20. 1 Peter 3:9 – Do Not Repay Evil With Evil
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
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21. Proverbs 20:3 – It Is to One’s Honor to Avoid Strife
It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
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22. Romans 12:17-18 – Live at Peace With Everyone
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
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23. Proverbs 29:22 – An Angry Person Stirs Up Conflict
An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.
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24. James 4:1-2 – What Causes Fights and Quarrels?
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.
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25. Leviticus 19:18 – Do Not Seek Revenge
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
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26. Proverbs 27:4 – Who Can Stand Before Jealousy?
Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
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27. Psalm 4:4 – Tremble and Do Not Sin
Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
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28. Proverbs 21:23 – Those Who Guard Their Mouths
Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.
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29. Ephesians 4:31-32 – Get Rid of All Bitterness
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
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30. Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred Stirs Up Conflict
Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.
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31. Titus 1:7 – Not Quick-Tempered
Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
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32. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – Love Is Not Easily Angered
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
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33. Proverbs 26:21 – As Charcoal to Embers and Wood to Fire
As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
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34. Mark 11:25 – When You Stand Praying, Forgive
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
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35. Colossians 3:13 – Forgive as the Lord Forgave You
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
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Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Anger
Scripture is remarkably practical about anger, acknowledging that it’s a natural human emotion while warning about its destructive potential. The command in Ephesians 4:26 says, “in your anger do not sin,” which implies that anger itself isn’t always sinful, but how we express it can be. The key distinction is between feeling angry and acting on anger in harmful ways. You can be legitimately upset about injustice without verbally attacking someone, nursing bitterness, or seeking revenge.
What’s convicting about these verses is how they expose the source of most anger: pride, selfishness, and unmet expectations. James asks, “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” and answers: “Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” Most of our anger isn’t righteous indignation but an ego-driven reaction to not getting what we want. This doesn’t excuse people who wrong us, but it requires honest self-examination about why we’re really angry.
The biblical solution to anger isn’t suppression but transformation. Be slow to anger, quick to listen, patient in offense, willing to overlook insults, and committed to forgiveness. These aren’t natural responses; they require the Holy Spirit’s power and intentional practice. The goal isn’t to never feel angry, but to not let anger control us or lead us into sin.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, I come to You angry right now, and I need Your help to handle this emotion in ways that honor You rather than damage others. You know what triggered this anger, whether it’s justified or not, and You know how quickly anger can spiral into sin if I don’t surrender it to You.
Help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Give me wisdom to discern whether my anger is righteous or selfish. If someone has genuinely wronged me, help me to pursue justice without seeking revenge. If my anger is about pride, unmet expectations, or selfishness, convict me and help me to repent.
Guard my mouth from saying things I can’t take back. Keep me from actions I’ll regret. Help me to be patient rather than quick-tempered, to overlook offenses rather than nursing grudges, and to choose forgiveness over bitterness.
Remind me of how much You’ve forgiven me and let that motivate me to extend grace to others. Transform my heart so that anger doesn’t control me, but I control it through Your Spirit’s power.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.