Romans 12:17–21
Do not repay evil with evil; overcome evil with good
Study it word by word17Repay no one evil for evil; take thought for what is good before all people.
18If possible, as far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.
19Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath; for it is written: Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.
20But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for by doing this you will heap coals of fire on his head.
21Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
In its context
15Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
16Be of the same mind toward one another; do not set your mind on lofty things, but let yourselves be carried along by what is humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
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Its words in the original
- μηδενὶmēdeni· no one, nothing
No one, nothing.
- κακὸνkakon· bad, evil
Bad, evil.
- ἀντὶanti· in place of, for
Instead of, in exchange for.
- ἀποδιδόντεςapodidontes· give back, pay
Pay, give back, give what is owed.
- προνοούμενοιpronooumenoi· take thought for
Take thought for, plan ahead, provide for.
- καλὰkala· good, beautiful
Good, beautiful, noble.
- ἐνώπιονenōpion· before, in front of
In front of, in the presence of.
- ἀνθρώπωνanthrōpōn· human being, man
Human being, person, man (without distinguishing male or female).
- δυνατόνdynaton· possible, powerful
Possible; also strong, powerful, able.
- εἰρηνεύοντεςeirēneuontes· be at peace
Live in peace.
- ἐκδικοῦντεςekdikountes· avenge, vindicate
Give justice to someone, vindicate; also avenge, punish.
- ἀγαπητοίagapētoi· beloved
Beloved, dear.
- δότεdote· give
Give.
- τόπονtopon· place
Place.
- ὀργῇorgēi· wrath, anger
Anger, wrath; said of God, his judgment against evil.
- γέγραπταιgegraptai· write
Write. "It is written": that is what the Scriptures say.
- ἐκδίκησιςekdikēsis· vengeance, justice
Justice done for someone; also vengeance, punishment.
- ἀνταποδώσωantapodōsō· repay
Repay, give back in return, reward or punish.
- λέγειlegei· say
Say, speak; in the passive, "be called".
- κύριοςkyrios· Lord, lord
Lord, master, owner. Said of God, the Lord; in Old Testament quotations it stands for the name YHWH.
- πεινᾷpeinai· be hungry
Be hungry; also long for something.
- ἐχθρόςechthros· enemy
Enemy; hostile.
- ψώμιζεpsōmize· feed
Feed, give food to someone; also give away as food.
- διψᾷdipsai· thirst
Be thirsty; long for something.
- πότιζεpotize· give to drink
Give to drink; water plants.
- ποιῶνpoiōn· do, make
Do, make, produce.
- ἄνθρακαςanthrakas· burning coal
Burning coal, a live coal.
- πυρὸςpyros· fire
Fire.
- σωρεύσειςsōreuseis· heap up
Heap up, pile up; also load with.
- κεφαλὴνkephalēn· head
Head.
- νικῶnikō· conquer, overcome
Conquer, overcome.
- ἀγαθῷagathōi· good
Good.