He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
(He that is) soon angry (Hebrew, curt, or short in his nostrils; he who lets but a short interval elapse between his taking offence and giving vent to it-the nostrils breathing out indignation) dealeth foolishly (Ecclesiastes 7:9; cf. below, Proverbs 14:29); and a man of wicked devices is hated. A man who, when offended, represses the indications of his anger, all the while meditating revenge, and waiting for the opportunity when he can wreak it. As "he that is soon angry dealeth foolishly" as, regards himself, so he that 'wickedly devises' revenge, while deferring the expression of his anger, bringeth on him the 'hatred' of others. Thus there is danger on both sides, in hastiness, and in deferring anger through malice. The latter is the worst offence.