14 Bless those who persecute you;(A) bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice;(B) weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another.(C) Do not be proud;(D) instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.(E) 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.(F) Give careful thought to do what is honorable(G) in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(H) 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,[a](I) says the Lord. 20 But

If your enemy is hungry, feed him.(J)
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
For in so doing
you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.[b](K)

21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

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Footnotes

  1. 12:19 Dt 32:35
  2. 12:20 Pr 25:21–22

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.(A) 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly;[a] do not claim to be wiser than you are.(B) 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.(C) 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.(D) 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God,[b] for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”(E) 20 Instead, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink, for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Footnotes

  1. 12.16 Or give yourselves to humble tasks
  2. 12.19 Gk the wrath