Let not the sun go down on your wrath


What's the meaning of the phrase 'Let not the sun go down on your wrath'?

Do not hold on to your anger for more than one day.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Let not the sun go down on your wrath'?

This expression derives from the Bible, Ephesians 4:26. The earliest version printed in English is in Coverdale’s Bible, 1535:

Be angrie, but synne not. Let not ye Sonne go downe vpo youre wrath.

See also: the List of Proverbs.

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.