let not the sun go down upon one's wrath, neither give place to the devil

English

Etymology

An allusion to Ephesians 4:26–27, viz. “…let not the sun go down upon your wrath: // Neither give place to the devil.”

Verb

let not the sun go down upon one's wrath, neither give place to the devil (imperative)

1. Seek to dispel ill-will before a day’s end, and not to act upon desires for vengeance.
   • 1683, John Kettlewell, An Help and Exhortation to Worthy Communicating; or, A Treatiſe Deſcribing the Meaning, Worthy Reception, Duty, and Benefits of the Holy Sacrament, part III: “Of the Hindrances that keep Men from the Communion”, chapter III: ‘Of want of Charity’, page 279

     And this Remedy St. Paul preſcribes to prevent all Wrath and Revengeful Carriage. Let not the Sun go down upon your Wrath, neither give place to the Devil, or to a † Calumniator and Accuſer, i. e. to exaſperating Thoughts and Inſinuations, whether ſuggeſted to us by our own minds, or by the whiſperings of others, Eph. 4. 26, 27.

     † τῳ διαβόλῳ.