Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
KJV
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
NASB
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.
NIV
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
NLT
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,” says the LORD.
Ezekiel 25:17
ESV
I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I lay my vengeance upon them.”
KJV
And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.
NASB
“I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes; and they will know that I am the LORD when I lay My vengeance on them.”’”
NIV
I will carry out great vengeance on them and punish them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I take vengeance on them.’”
NLT
I will execute terrible vengeance against them to punish them for what they have done. And when I have inflicted my revenge, they will know that I am the LORD.”
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
KJV
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
NASB
‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
NIV
“’Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
NLT
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Revelation 21:8
ESV
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
KJV
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
NASB
“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
NIV
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
NLT
“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Romans 13:4
ESV
for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
KJV
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
NASB
for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
NIV
For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
NLT
The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.
Deuteronomy 32:25
ESV
Outdoors the sword shall bereave, and indoors terror, for young man and woman alike, the nursing child with the man of gray hairs.
KJV
The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
NASB
‘Outside the sword will bereave, And inside terror— Both young man and virgin, The nursling with the man of gray hair.
NIV
In the street the sword will make them childless; in their homes terror will reign. The young men and young women will perish, the infants and those with gray hair.
NLT
Outside, the sword will bring death, and inside, terror will strike both young men and young women, both infants and the aged.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
ESV
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
KJV
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
NASB
See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
NIV
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
NLT
See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
Psalm 94:1
ESV
O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth!
KJV
O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
NASB
O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!
NIV
The LORD is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth.
NLT
O LORD, the God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice shine forth!
1 Samuel 24:12
ESV
May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.
KJV
The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
NASB
“May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.
NIV
May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.
NLT
“May the LORD judge between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.
Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. He was a pastor for 10 years. As a professor, he has taught Bible and theology courses at two Christian universities. Please see his About page for details.
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