“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1
“Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.” Proverbs 29:11
The Book of Proverbs doesn’t merely address anger—it dissects it. It talks about not just what we feel, but how to respond. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” And again: “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”
There’s no virtue in letting anger fly unchecked. Wisdom begins when we realize that not every provocation deserves a response—and that sometimes silence speaks more powerfully than words. Scripture doesn’t say the wise never feel anger. It says the wise rule over it, choosing their responses with patience, gentleness, and intentionality.
“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” Groucho Marx
In a world that idolizes “keeping it real” and “clapping back,” Proverbs invites us to live counter-culturally. Restraint is not a weakness. It’s strength under control.
To prayerfully consider: What situation in your life right now calls for a gentle answer? Is there someone you need to stop reacting to and start responding to with wisdom?
