A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.
Parallel translations
- WEB A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control.
- KJV A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
- NKJV A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.
- NASB A fool always loses his temper, But a wise person holds it back.
- NLT Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A fool unleashes all his anger, but a wise person restrains himself. It commends self-control over uncontrolled venting of emotion.
Overview
The proverb contrasts the fool who pours out all his anger with the wise person who holds it back under control. Mastery of one's temper is a mark of true wisdom. Such self-control is part of the fruit of the Spirit, cultivated in those being conformed to the gentleness of Christ (Galatians 5:22-23).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Prov 19:11A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
- Prov 12:16A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
- Mic 7:5Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.
- Amos 5:13Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil.
- Prov 14:33Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.
- Prov 12:23A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.
- Judg 16:17Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.”
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 29:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.