Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse doesn't just tell us not to seek revenge; it highlights a crucial distinction in why we should wait on the Lord. It's not about waiting for him to execute vengeance on our enemies, but rather for him to deliver us. This shifts the focus from a desire for retribution to a trust in God's protective care.
In this section of Proverbs, Solomon is offering practical wisdom for navigating life's challenges, often contrasting foolish behavior with righteous living. This verse directly follows advice about not trusting unreliable riches and precedes a warning against acting as a surety for debt. It urges the reader to resist the natural impulse for personal vengeance when wronged, instead directing them to trust in God's ultimate justice and deliverance.
Ever felt that burning desire to get even when someone wrongs you? This verse speaks directly to that impulse.
Solomon, under the Spirit's inspiration, issues a strong warning: 'Do not say, 'I will repay evil'.' This isn't just about avoiding the act of revenge, but also the very thought and intention. When we plot our own payback, we're stepping onto dangerous ground. We usurp God's role, forgetting that vengeance and justice belong to Him alone. Our human perspective is limited; we don't see the whole picture or know the ultimate outcome. Holding onto a desire for personal retribution poisons our hearts and keeps us from the peace God offers.
If we don't take matters into our own hands, what do we do? This verse offers a powerful alternative: waiting on the Lord.
The invitation isn't to passive resignation, but to active trust. 'Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.' This means committing our cause to God, trusting His timing and His methods. The focus shifts from our own desire for vengeance to His promise of deliverance. It’s about recognizing that God is the ultimate judge and protector. He doesn't promise that the wrong won't happen, but that He will see us through it and act on our behalf. This waiting brings a profound peace, allowing us to rest in His sovereign care rather than being consumed by bitterness.
Understand the original words
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 echoes Proverbs' command by urging believers not to repay evil for evil, reinforcing the idea that vengeance belongs to God.
1 Peter 3:9Peter directly tells believers not to repay insults with insults but to offer blessings instead, aligning with the Proverbs' call to refrain from seeking personal retribution.
Psalm 37:5This psalm encourages committing one's way to the Lord and trusting in Him, which is the very essence of 'waiting on the Lord' mentioned in Proverbs.
Matthew 5:39Jesus' teaching to 'turn the other cheek' provides a radical example of responding to offense not with reciprocal evil, but with grace, pushing beyond mere non-retaliation.
Deuteronomy 32:35This Old Testament passage explicitly states that vengeance and recompense belong to God, providing a theological foundation for the command in Proverbs.
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…
The verse doesn't just tell us not to seek revenge; it highlights a crucial distinction in why we should wait on the Lord. It's not about waiting for him to execute vengeance on our enemies, but rather for him to deliver us. This shifts the focus from a desire for retribution to a trust in God's protective care.
In this section of Proverbs, Solomon is offering practical wisdom for navigating life's challenges, often contrasting foolish behavior with righteous living. This verse directly follows advice about not trusting unreliable riches and precedes a warning against acting as a surety for debt. It urges the reader to resist the natural impulse for personal vengeance when wronged, instead directing them to trust in God's ultimate justice and deliverance.
In this section of Proverbs, Solomon is offering practical wisdom for navigating life's challenges, often contrasting foolish behavior with righteous living. This verse directly follows advice about not trusting unreliable riches and precedes a warning against acting as a surety for debt. It urges the reader to resist the natural impulse for personal vengeance when wronged, instead directing them to trust in God's ultimate justice and deliverance.
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"Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you." — The verse doesn't just tell us not to seek revenge; it highlights a crucial distinction in why we should wait on the Lord. It's not about waiting for him to execute vengeance on our enemies, but…
