Asaph speaks of God's anger as if it were an angry person whom God held onto to keep him from attacking the one who had made him angry. Alternate translation: "did not punish them even though he was angry with them" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])
Asaph speaks of God's wrath as if it were a sleeping person whom God allowed to sleep and did not awaken. Alternate translation: "did not allow himself to become fully angry with them" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])