Proverbs 27:3 - Meaning and Application

These two verses show the great harm caused by two things, uncontrolled anger and deep-seated malice. The anger of a fool, who, when provoked, does not care what he says or does, is heavier than a large stone or a load of sand. It weighs down the person who carries it, because people who cannot control their passions end up crushed by them. It also weighs on the people they are angry with, since a furious person may do them real harm. So wisdom tells us not to provoke a fool, and, if he is angry, to stay out of his way.

The second evil is rooted malice, which is even worse than sudden anger, just as a fire made from juniper wood burns hotter than a fire of thorns. Anger is cruel and does many wicked things, and rage is violent. But hidden hatred, envy of another person’s success, and a desire for revenge are even more dangerous. A sudden burst of anger can sometimes be avoided, as David escaped Saul’s spear, but when anger grows into steady envy, as Saul’s did, no one can safely stand against it. A person who resents another’s good fortune will keep planning harm and will hold onto that anger forever.