An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. Proverbs 29:22

We see angry people all around us. We even have special names for what they do: “road rage” and “going postal” both come to mind. Often if it’s someone we know who’s angry, we know when to lay off and let them blow steam, as it were. We steer clear of their path if we can. Why? Because we know what this verse teaches, that the person will almost certainly do something he or she will regret.

Still we know to stay away because we don’t want to be caught up in their rage. When they are cooled down, we can engage but not before that.

The New Testament warns us not to be that person: “Be angry and sin not,” Ephesians 4:26. It’s a wise teaching we all can learn from time to time. After all, we know that “we” can be the “they” given the right setting.