“What does Proverbs say about Controlling Your Anger?” Be slow to anger.
I. Consequences
1. This quality is of high value. 16:32”He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules
his spirit, than he who captures a city.” “Slow to anger” implies anger is not wrong. Theperson slow to
anger is better than a mighty warrior who conquers a city who might be short fused. Such a person will
have more battles to fight.
2. Anger leads to foolish activity. 14:17 “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices
is hated.”Being quick tempered will lead to foolish actions one will regret. This situation is even worse
if it is a person whose anger leads to evil scheming & planning.
3. Such anger stirs up strife. 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a
dispute. They tend to stir up strife & tension in relationships where it does not need to exist.
4. They keep getting into trouble. 19:19 A man of great anger will bear the penalty, For if you rescue him,
you will only have to do it again. They keep starting new fires with their uncontrolled anger.
5. Things get out of control where there is no defense. 17:14 “The beginning of strife is like letting out
water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.” Once the damn breaks there is no stopping the
flood. 25:28 “Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his
spirit.” Any line of defense to regain self-control is gone. In both, something is torn down which would
protect the person from further danger & loss.
6. Some consequences will be next to impossible to undo. 18:19 “A brother offended is harder to be won
than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.” The damage done is so bad that it is
like trying to overcome a fortified city or break through a gate reinforced by wood, bronze or iron bars.
There will be much resistance to overcome.
II. Counsel
1. Don’t associate with angry people. 22:24-25 “Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a
hot-tempered man, Or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself.” “associate” points to close
friendship or companionship. They will pull you down to become like them.
2. Remove the scoffer. 29:8 “Scorners set a city aflame, But wise men turn away anger.” 22:10 “Drive out
the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease.” The removal of a scorner/
scoffer/mocker will also remove much unnecessary strife & restore peace to a group.
3. Limit your words. 17:27-28 “He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is
a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips,
he is considered prudent.”Holding back with our words & even silence is appropriate under many
occasions, especially when tempers are flaring. This gives time to think before you speak.
4. Be willing to overlook transgressions against you. 19:11 “A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory to overlook a transgression. “ Passing over/overlooking when people have wronged
you is God-like (Micah 7:18). Keeping records of wrongs in not. True glory & beauty of character is
shown by this rather than quickly venting your anger.
5. Let the Lord hand the situation. 20:22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will
save you.Leave it with God to deliver and right all wrongs. To take things into your own hands is to
doubt His ability & commitment to do this & will likely lead to unrighteous anger (James 1:20).
Remember that person cannot take away your salvation.