“A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.”—12:16 (14:17, 29; 29:11).
Interpretation.—It is one of the marks of unwisdom to make known vexation at once (“on the same day”). Whereas, “a prudent man,” “one who is rich in understanding,” is “slow to anger,” and by restraining himself, avoids exposure both of the “shame” or affront put upon him, and also of his own wounded feelings thereat. Thus too he escapes putting himself to shame by unseemly word or act; whereas “he who is quick to anger worketh folly,” for passionate anger is an offence against self-respect.
Illustrations.—Both Saul and David present contrasts with themselves at different periods of their history. How wisely Saul controlled himself under disaffection and insult at the very outset of his reign (1 Sam. 10:27)! To what frenzies of wrath did the same man give way later on against his own son and David! Nor was the son of Jesse less painfully inconsistent with himself as towards Eliab (1 Sam. 17:29), and towards Nabal (1 Sam. 25:21, etc.). Naaman was very near playing the fool, through irritation of spirit, to his own great loss; and Jonah exalted (or enthroned) folly even before the Lord (4). Gideon, by a prudent answer, averted a quarrel (Judg. 8:1–4). But the “meek and lowly” Jesus is our great Exemplar, who in all His provocations did “not strive nor cry.”
Application.—How hard it often is to restrain anger, and how many excuses rise up to justify its indulgence! The frequency of the temptation is attested by the many cautions against it in this one of the sacred Books alone. Its vehemence is proved by the fact that so holy and meek a man as Moses was overborne by it. The world judges very differently from Holy Scripture on this point, and commends as “proper spirit,” or extenuates as “indiscretion,” displays of temper as foolish as irreligious. But can I doubt to which guide to commit myself? Surely I have known of, if indeed I have not seen, many an example of the words above quoted,—offence taken suddenly, an outburst of indignant language,—exposure, shame, regret, apology, succeeding. All which would have been saved by the exercise of self-control. Let me reflect that no greater triumph can be given an enemy than to know that he has wounded to the quick, and how he may do it again. Even bodily health suffers from violent perturbations of the spirit; how much more the mind and the soul! But higher motives must be brought in, which may go to the root of the evil. “Looking unto Jesus” is the only specific for sinful anger. And “anger is only sinless when it is a holy emotion directed against an unholy thing” (Eph. 4:26).
Pearson, C. R. (1880). Counsels of the Wise King; or, Proverbs of Solomon Applied to Daily Life (Vol. 1, p. 65). W. Skeffington & Son. (Public Domain)
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