Psalm 37:8

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Cross-references

1 Samuel 25:21–23 Historical context

1 Samuel 25:21-23 shows David's anger at Nabal nearly leading to murder — a vivid example of how anger tends to evil, as warned.

Jonah 4:1 Historical context

Jonah 4:1 shows Jonah's anger at God's mercy — a direct example of the anger that Psalm 37:8 warns leads to evil.

Jonah 4:9 Historical context

Jonah 4:9 reveals Jonah's stubborn insistence that his anger is justified — exemplifying the folly of wrath that tends only to evil.

Luke 9:54 Parallel

Luke 9:54 records James and John wanting to call fire on Samaritans — anger seeking destruction, exactly the evil Psalm 37:8 warns against.

Luke 9:55 Parallel

Luke 9:55 shows Jesus rebuking that anger — demonstrating the proper response of refraining from wrath as commanded.

Ephesians 4:31 commands putting away anger — directly aligning with the instruction to refrain from wrath.

James 1:20 Parallel

James 1:20 explains that human anger fails to produce righteousness — reinforcing that anger leads to evil.

Matthew 5:22 echoes this warning by teaching that anger without cause leads to judgment—a direct NT parallel on anger's danger.

Colossians 3:8 commands putting away anger and wrath, directly paralleling the instruction to cease from anger here.

Job 5:2 Parallel

In Job 5:2, resentment kills the foolish — reinforcing that anger (fretting) leads to destruction.

Proverbs 14:29 contrasts patience with quick temper — reinforcing the call to refrain from anger.

Proverbs 16:32 extols self-control over anger — echoing the virtue of restraining wrath.

Ephesians 4:26 permits anger but warns against sin — a nuanced parallel to refraining from anger.

James 1:19 Parallel

James 1:19 counsels being slow to anger — a practical application of refraining from wrath.

Job 18:4 Parallel

In Job 18:4, anger tears oneself apart — aligning with the warning that anger leads to evil.