Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 20:22
What does Proverbs 20:22 mean?
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Proverbs 20:22
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This verse doesn't just tell us to avoid revenge, it highlights that our hope isn't in seeing our enemy punished, but in God's deliverance for us. Trusting God to save us shifts our focus from settling scores to experiencing His protection.
Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom for daily living, and this verse is nestled within a collection of sayings about justice, wisdom, and the consequences of foolishness. It directly follows advice against being a guarantor for debt and precedes further warnings about wickedness and deceit. In this section, the overarching theme is about acting wisely and justly, trusting God’s ultimate authority rather than taking matters of retribution into one's own hands.
Ever been wronged and felt that burning desire to get even? Proverbs hits hard against this impulse.
The verse commands us, 'Do not say, 'I will repay evil.'' This isn't just about spoken words, but the deep-seated intention in our hearts. Vengeance is a dangerous game because it pulls us down to the level of the offender, corrupting our own spirit. It belongs to God alone, who sees all and judges perfectly. Trying to 'recompense evil' ourselves opens the door to a cycle of bitterness that only God can break.
What does it truly mean to 'wait for the Lord,' especially when we're hurting?
The alternative to seeking personal revenge is not passive resignation, but active trust in God's timing and justice. 'Wait for the Lord' means committing our cause to Him, trusting that He is our ultimate protector and judge. The promise isn't necessarily that our enemies will be punished, but that 'He will deliver you.' This deliverance is often about God preserving us, protecting our integrity, and ultimately bringing about His righteous will, not just our personal satisfaction.
Understand the original words
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ra'ah · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Actions or attitudes that are contrary to God’s nature and character. It signifies moral corruption, malice, or harm inflicted upon others, often standing in opposition to God's righteousness.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God of Israel. The term represents God’s personal, redemptive relationship with His people and His authority as Creator and Judge.
yasha · Hebrew Verb
Refers to the act of saving, rescuing, or setting free from danger, distress, or enemies. Biblically, it is an act of divine intervention on behalf of those who trust in Him.
This passage directly echoes Proverbs' command, urging believers not to repay evil for evil, but to do good to all, reinforcing the idea that vengeance belongs to God.
Matthew 5:39Jesus expands on this theme by teaching a radical approach to conflict, advising his followers to turn the other cheek rather than retaliate, which aligns with the spirit of waiting on the Lord.
Psalm 37:7This psalm encourages stillness and waiting on the Lord, promising that He will act on behalf of the righteous, mirroring Proverbs' assurance that God will deliver those who entrust their cause to Him.
1 Peter 3:9Peter connects this principle to blessing those who curse and praying for those who mistreat you, highlighting the positive spiritual outcomes of not repaying evil and instead waiting for God's intervention.
Deuteronomy 32:35This Old Testament passage explicitly states that vengeance and recompense belong to the Lord, providing a foundational theological basis for the advice given in Proverbs 20:22.
barnesProverbs 20:22: "Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee."
God's awarding to everyone according to his works, is the true check to the spirit of vindictiveness (compare Romans 12:17 , Romans 12:19 ). Note that man is not told to wait on the Lord in expectation of seeing vengeance on his enemies, but "He shall save thee." The difference of the two hopes, in their effect upon the man's character, is incalculable.
bensonProverbs 20:22: "Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee."
Proverbs 20:22 . Say not thou, I will recompense evil — While we live in the world, we must expect to have injuries done us, affronts given, and much trouble wrongfully created to us. But we must not revenge ourselves; no, not so much as design or think of any such thing. We must not say, no, not in our hearts, I will return evil for evil; but must wait on the Lord, to whom it belongs to execut…
This verse doesn't just tell us to avoid revenge, it highlights that our hope isn't in seeing our enemy punished, but in God's deliverance for us. Trusting God to save us shifts our focus from settling scores to experiencing His protection.
The book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom for daily living, and this verse is nestled within a collection of sayings about justice, wisdom, and the consequences of foolishness. It directly follows advice against being a guarantor for debt and precedes further warnings about wickedness and deceit. In this section, the overarching theme is about acting wisely and justly, trusting God’s ultimate authority rather than taking matters of retribution into one's own hands.
The book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom for daily living, and this verse is nestled within a collection of sayings about justice, wisdom, and the consequences of foolishness. It directly follows advice against being a guarantor for debt and precedes further warnings about wickedness and deceit. In this section, the overarching theme is about acting wisely and justly, trusting God’s ultimate authority rather than taking matters of retribution into one's own hands.
"Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you." — This verse doesn't just tell us to avoid revenge, it highlights that our hope isn't in seeing our enemy punished, but in God's deliverance for us. Trusting God to save us shifts our focus from sett…
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Last reviewed October 2026