Romans 12:19–21
Do not take revenge: overcome evil with good
Study it word by word19Do 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
17Repay 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.
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Its words in the original
- 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.
- κακοῦkakou· bad, evil
Bad, evil.
- ἀγαθῷagathōi· good
Good.