Proverbs 14:29-30 (ESV)
29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,
but envy makes the bones rot.
Solomon contrasts two very different responses to life’s frustrations. “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” The phrase translated “slow to anger” literally means “long of nose” in Hebrew. The image is of someone who is patient. Rather than reacting impulsively when wronged, she exercises self control and carefully governs her emotions. Solomon says such a person possesses great understanding. Like the Lord himself, who is repeatedly described as “slow to anger” (Exodus 34:6), the wise woman learns to respond with restraint when circumstances or people test her.
The fool, however, is “hasty” or “short of spirit.” She is easily irritated, quick to react, and prone to emotional outbursts. Galatians 5:19-20 lists fits of anger among the works of the flesh. Rather than pausing to think, pray, and trust God, she would rather vent her frustration. Solomon says this person “exalts folly.” Her anger puts her foolishness on display for everyone to see.
Solomon then reminds us that what happens in the heart affects the body. “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” A tranquil heart is calm, content, and at rest in God’s providence. It is free from constant anxiety. Such a heart promotes health and well being. By contrast, envy is the resentful awareness of another person’s advantage coupled with the craving to possess it for oneself. Solomon says this envy rots the bones. Like a disease that eats away from the inside out, jealousy and envy slowly destroy joy and peace.
The woman who trusts God’s sovereignty can remain calm when provoked and content when others prosper. She does not need to fight for immediate vindication or compare her life with those around her. The fool, however, is controlled by her emotions. Anger erupts when she is offended, and envy grows when she sees others receive what she desires.
When you are upset, what do you display before those around you? Are you known as a person who is quick to anger, or one who routinely extends grace? Are you content with God’s gifts, or do you quietly resent the blessings he has given to others? The Lord has been extraordinarily patient with us. It is only fitting, then, that those who fear him should reflect his character. Ask God today to cultivate within you a tranquil and contented heart, one that is slow to anger, free from envy, and a source of life to both yourself and those around you.