19 Beloved, (A)do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, (B)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore

(C)“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

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

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19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;
    I will pay them back,”[a]
    says the Lord.

20 Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
    burning coals of shame on their heads.”[b]

21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

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19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.(A) 20 But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for by doing this you will heap [a]burning coals on his head.”(B) 21 Do not be overcome and conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:20 This may refer to an ancient Egyptian custom in which a penitent person carried a bowl of burning embers on his head to show his shame and guilt. By analogy, being kind to an enemy may lead him to shame and repentance.

19 Do not take revenge,(A) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a](B) says the Lord. 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.”[b](C)

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

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
  2. Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

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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