Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a](A) and hate your enemy.’(B) 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,(C) 45 that you may be children(D) of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:43 Lev. 19:18

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

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“If you come across your enemy’s(A) ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it.(B) If you see the donkey(C) of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.

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If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.

If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.

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11 Ruthless witnesses(A) come forward;
    they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good(B)
    and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth(C)
    and humbled myself with fasting.(D)
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14     I went about mourning(E)
    as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
    as though weeping for my mother.

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11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

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Love for Enemies(A)

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,(B) 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.(C)

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27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

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34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?(A) Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them,(B) and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children(C) of the Most High,(D) because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

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34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

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34 Jesus said, “Father,(A) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a](B) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:34 Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence.

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

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14 Bless those who persecute you;(A) bless and do not curse.

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14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

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20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[a](A)

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

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23 When they hurled their insults at him,(A) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.(B) Instead, he entrusted himself(C) to him who judges justly.(D)

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23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

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Do not repay evil with evil(A) or insult with insult.(B) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,(C) because to this(D) you were called(E) so that you may inherit a blessing.(F)

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Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

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