^17 (A)Repay no one evil for evil. ^(B)Have^[a] regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, ^(C)live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, ^(D)do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ^(E)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore

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

^15 (A)See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always ^(B)pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

^39 (A)But I tell you not to resist an evil person. ^(B)But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. ⁴⁰ If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹ And whoever ^(C)compels you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to him who asks you, and ^(D)from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Love Your Enemies^(E)

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ^(F)‘You shall love your neighbor ^(G)and hate your enemy.’ ^44 [a]But I say to you, ^(H)love your enemies, bless those who curse you, ^(I)do good to those who hate you, and pray ^(J)for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

²² And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon ^(A)neither good nor bad. For Absalom ^(B)hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

Absalom Murders Amnon

²³ And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom ^(C)had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king’s sons. ²⁴ Then Absalom came to the king and said, “Kindly note, 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 now, lest we be a burden to you.” Then he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him.

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 urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

²⁸ Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon’s ^(D)heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and ^[a]valiant.”

¹¹ Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, “Do you not know that the Philistines ^(A)rule over us? What is this you have done to us?”

And he said to them, “As they did to me, so I have done to them.”