Which other Proverbs emphasize the dangers of unchecked anger? Proverbs that Spell Out the Penalties of Anger • Proverbs 14:17 — “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man who schemes is hated.” • Unchecked anger clouds judgment and leaves a trail of damaged relationships. • Proverbs 19:19 ties the theme together: rescuing the hot-tempered only guarantees repeat crises. • Proverbs 29:22 — “An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.” • Anger multiplies sin, never merely containing it. • Proverbs 30:33 — “…so stirring up anger produces strife.” • Just as churning milk guarantees butter, stirring anger guarantees conflict. Proverbs that Contrast Anger with Patience • Proverbs 14:29 — “A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.” • Proverbs 15:18 — “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.” • Proverbs 16:32 — “He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.” • Proverbs 19:11 — “A man's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.” • Patience is portrayed as strength superior to military conquest. Proverbs that Warn About Close Association with the Hot-Tempered • Proverbs 22:24-25 — “Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.” • Proximity breeds imitation; anger is contagious. • Proverbs 26:21 — “Like charcoal embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.” • Staying near the angry person keeps the blaze fueled. Proverbs that Picture the Foolish Exposure of Rage • Proverbs 29:11 — “A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.” • Proverbs 25:28 — “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.” • Lack of self-control leaves life defenseless, open to every attack. • Proverbs 27:4 — “Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?” • Even mighty anger is devastating—a flood sweeping everything before it. Proverbs Offering Practical Restraints • Proverbs 15:1 — “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” • Soft words siphon off heat; sharp words pour gasoline on it. • Proverbs 17:14 — “To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.” • Best time to stop anger’s flood is before the dam bursts. • Proverbs 18:6 — “A fool's lips bring strife, and his mouth invites a beating.” • Control speech, and anger finds fewer doorways. Living the Wisdom The collected sayings press one truth: anger, when left unchecked, ruins individuals, relationships, and communities. Scripture consistently calls us to patience, gentle words, and deliberate distance from the habitually enraged. The Spirit-empowered choice to “overlook an offense” (19:11) protects us, reflects Christ’s character, and breaks anger’s destructive cycle. |
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