Bible Verses About Patience and Anger
"A soft answer turns away wrath" only works if it's already in you before the moment you need it. This pack gathers ESV verses on patience, self-control, and slowness to anger — the kind of scripture that has to be memorized ahead of time, because nobody looks anything up mid-argument.
It's the largest pack in BibleLock (45 verses), reflecting how often anger shows up as the thing people are actually trying to memorize their way out of.
Reading a list is step one. BibleLock turns these 45 verses into fill-in-the-blank puzzles that unlock your apps — so you actually memorize them.
Get the Patience & Anger pack →1. Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
2. Proverbs 16:32 (ESV)
“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”
3. Romans 12:12 (ESV)
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
4. Proverbs 14:17 (ESV)
“A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.”
5. Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV)
“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
6. 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
7. Psalm 40:1 (ESV)
“To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.”
8. Psalm 37:7 (ESV)
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”
9. Romans 8:25 (ESV)
“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
10. Proverbs 15:18 (ESV)
“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.”
11. Ephesians 4:2 (ESV)
“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,”
12. Psalm 27:14 (ESV)
“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”
13. Hebrews 10:36 (ESV)
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”
14. Proverbs 19:11 (ESV)
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
15. Isaiah 30:18 (ESV)
“Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”
16. Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
17. Proverbs 16:32 (ESV)
“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”
18. Romans 12:12 (ESV)
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
19. Proverbs 14:17 (ESV)
“A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.”
20. Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV)
“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
21. 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
22. Psalm 40:1 (ESV)
“To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.”
23. Psalm 37:7 (ESV)
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”
24. Romans 8:25 (ESV)
“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
25. Proverbs 15:18 (ESV)
“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.”
26. Ephesians 4:2 (ESV)
“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,”
27. Psalm 27:14 (ESV)
“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”
28. Hebrews 10:36 (ESV)
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”
29. Proverbs 19:11 (ESV)
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
30. Isaiah 30:18 (ESV)
“Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”
31. Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
32. Proverbs 16:32 (ESV)
“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”
33. Romans 12:12 (ESV)
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
34. Proverbs 14:17 (ESV)
“A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.”
35. Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV)
“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
36. 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
37. Psalm 40:1 (ESV)
“To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.”
38. Psalm 37:7 (ESV)
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”
39. Romans 8:25 (ESV)
“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
40. Proverbs 15:18 (ESV)
“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.”
41. Ephesians 4:2 (ESV)
“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,”
42. Psalm 27:14 (ESV)
“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”
43. Hebrews 10:36 (ESV)
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”
44. Proverbs 19:11 (ESV)
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
45. Isaiah 30:18 (ESV)
“Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.