Anger
Wise people do not get angry quickly. “A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly” (Proverbs 14:29). Anger can cause bad judgment, so wise people think before they act (14:16).
The book of Proverbs views anger negatively, but not all anger in Scripture is bad. Many psalms speak of God's anger (for example, Psalm 77). Jesus was angry when he expelled the money changers from the temple (Mark 11:15–17; John 2:13–16).
People must learn to tell the difference between righteous and unrighteous anger, though it is often difficult. Unrighteous anger focuses on protecting or promoting oneself (for example, Genesis 4:3–8; 1 Samuel 18:8–9; 1 Kings 21:3–4; 2 Kings 5:11; 2 Chronicles 25:10; Jonah 4). Righteous anger shows God’s hatred of evil and love of justice (for example, Exodus 32; Numbers 11:1, 10; see also Nahum 1:3; Romans 9:22). A wise person understands the situation. Then that person decides if showing anger is appropriate (see also Proverbs 22:24; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Matthew 5:22; Romans 12:19; Ephesians 4:26–27, 31; James 1:19–20).
Passages for Further Study
1 Samuel 18:8–11; 1 Kings 21:3–16; Psalms 30:5; 37:8; Proverbs 12:16; 14:29; 15:1, 18; 16:14; 19:11–12, 19; 22:24–25; 27:4; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Nahum 1:2–3; Matthew 5:22; Ephesians 4:26–27, 31–32; 1 Timothy 2:8; Titus 1:7; James 1:19–21
Passages
Genesis 4:3–8 Exodus 32:1–35 Numbers 11:1 Numbers 11:10 1 Samuel 18:8–9 1 Samuel 18:8–11 1 Kings 21:3–4 1 Kings 21:3–16 2 Kings 5:11 2 Chronicles 25:10 Psalm 30:5 Psalm 37:8 Psalm 77:1–20 Proverbs 12:16 Proverbs 14:16 Proverbs 14:29 Proverbs 15:1 Proverbs 15:18 Proverbs 16:14 Proverbs 19:11–12 Proverbs 19:19 Proverbs 22:24 Proverbs 22:24–25 Proverbs 27:4 Ecclesiastes 7:9 Jonah 4:1–11 Nahum 1:2–3 Nahum 1:3 Matthew 5:22 Mark 11:15–17 John 2:13–16 Romans 9:22 Romans 12:19 Ephesians 4:26–27 Ephesians 4:31 Ephesians 4:31–32 1 Timothy 2:8 Titus 1:7 James 1:19–20 James 1:19–21