^17 (A)Repay no one evil for evil, but ^(B)give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, ^(C)live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, ^(D)never avenge yourselves, but leave it^[a] to the wrath of God, for it is written, ^(E)“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, ^(F)“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

¹⁵ See that ^(A)no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always ^(B)seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

³⁹ But I say to you, ^(A)Do not resist the one who is evil. But ^(B)if anyone ^(C)slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ And ^(D)if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,^[a] let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹ And if anyone ^(E)forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ^42 (F)Give to the one who begs from you, and ^(G)do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Love Your Enemies

^43 (H)“You have heard that it was said, ^(I)‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, ^(J)Love your enemies and ^(K)pray for those who persecute you,

²² But Absalom spoke to Amnon ^(A)neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.

Absalom Murders Amnon

²³ After two full years Absalom had ^(B)sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. ²⁴ And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” ²⁵ But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. ²⁶ Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” ²⁷ But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. ²⁸ Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's ^(C)heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.”

¹¹ Then 3,000 men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, “Do you not know that ^(A)the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?” And he said to them, “As they did to me, so have I done to them.”