Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 24:29
What does Proverbs 24:29 mean?
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Proverbs 24:29
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This isn't just about avoiding doing evil, but even more profoundly, it's about guarding your thoughts and the inner dialogue that justifies revenge. The verse warns against letting the desire to pay someone back for their wrongs take root in your heart, showing that true wisdom begins by controlling our impulses and internal justifications for retaliation.
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage comes right after advice about dealing with false witnesses and the temptation to seek revenge. The author urges us not to follow the impulse to repay evil with evil. Instead, it directs us to leave the settling of scores to God, who will ultimately judge justly.
When someone wrongs us, our first instinct is often to strike back. But what if that's exactly what we're called NOT to do?
This verse slams the door on personal revenge. It speaks directly against the idea of 'I'll get you back for what you did to me.' The temptation to repay harm with harm, to match injury with injury, is powerful. The ancient concept of 'an eye for an eye' was originally meant to limit retribution, not to encourage it in personal disputes. Proverbs here warns us against this destructive cycle, urging us to resist the urge to mirror the wrong done to us.
We often think we know the perfect punishment for those who hurt us. But who is the ultimate judge?
The verse implies that the desire to 'pay the man back for what he has done' is an attempt to usurp God's role. While justice is important, personal vengeance is not our department. The wisdom here is to recognize that only God has the perfect knowledge and authority to render true justice, 'according to his work.' Our part is to trust Him with the outcome, rather than taking matters into our own hands. This isn't about letting people off the hook, but about entrusting the ultimate accountability to the One who is perfectly just.
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shalam · Hebrew Verb
The biblical principle of retribution or vengeance. Scripture consistently calls believers to refrain from personal retaliation, teaching that justice belongs to God and that the heart should be kept free from the bitterness of repaying evil with evil.
This passage echoes the wisdom of Proverbs by directly instructing believers not to repay evil for evil, aligning with the principle of avoiding personal retaliation.
Matthew 5:38-39Jesus expands on this theme, challenging the 'eye for an eye' principle by urging followers to turn the other cheek, offering a higher standard than simple non-retaliation.
Proverbs 20:22This verse offers a parallel warning within Proverbs itself, advising against plotting revenge, reinforcing the idea that vengeance belongs to God.
James 2:13This verse connects the idea of judgment with mercy, suggesting that those who don't show mercy in their dealings with others will face judgment without mercy, a consequence of vengeful actions.
pulpitProverbs 24:29: "Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work."
Verse 29. - The subject is still continued, as if the moralist would say, "Though a man has done you an injury by gratuitously testifying against you, do not you retaliate in the same way." Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me (see Proverbs 20:22, and note there). The lex talionis should not be applied to private wrongs. The high morality of the Christian code is h…
cambridgeProverbs 24:29: "Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work."
29 . See Proverbs 25:22 and note there.
This isn't just about avoiding doing evil, but even more profoundly, it's about guarding your thoughts and the inner dialogue that justifies revenge. The verse warns against letting the desire to pay someone back for their wrongs take root in your heart, showing that true wisdom begins by controlling our impulses and internal justifications for retaliation.
This passage comes right after advice about dealing with false witnesses and the temptation to seek revenge. The author urges us not to follow the impulse to repay evil with evil. Instead, it directs us to leave the settling of scores to God, who will ultimately judge justly.
This passage comes right after advice about dealing with false witnesses and the temptation to seek revenge. The author urges us not to follow the impulse to repay evil with evil. Instead, it directs us to leave the settling of scores to God, who will ultimately judge justly.
"Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”" — This isn't just about avoiding doing evil, but even more profoundly, it's about guarding your thoughts and the inner dialogue that justifies revenge. The verse warns against letting the desire to…
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Last reviewed October 2026