Proverbs 20:22

Proverbs 20:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.

Context of Proverbs 20:22

20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness. 21An inheritancemay be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed. Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee. 23Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good. 24A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?

Proverbs 20:22 word by word

אַל־תֹּאמַ֥ר אֲשַׁלְּמָה־רָ֑ע קַוֵּ֥ה לַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה וְיֹ֣שַֽׁע לָֽךְ׃Read the interlinear

• Sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
• Waitקָוָהqâvâh · to awaitH6960
• saveיָשַׁעyâsha‛ · to saveH3467

Cross-references for Proverbs 20:22

• Proverbs 17:13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
• Proverbs 24:29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.
• Deuteronomy 32:35Vengeance is mine, and recompense, At the time when their foot shall slide: For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things that are to come upon them shall make haste.
• Romans 12:17Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.
• 1 Peter 3:9not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
• 2 Samuel 6:12And it was told king David, saying, Jehovah hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with joy.
• Psalms 27:14Wait for Jehovah: Be strong, and let thy heart take courage; Yea, wait thou for Jehovah.
• Psalms 37:34Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
• Isaiah 40:31but they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.
• Lamentations 3:25Jehovah is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
• 1 Peter 2:23who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
• 1 Peter 4:19Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.

Commentaries on Proverbs 20:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22I will recompense evil - Wait on the Lord; judgment is his, and his judgments are sure. In the mean time pray for the conversion of your enemy.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22God‘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.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22Verse 22 Wait on the Lord, attend his pleasure, and he will protect thee.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22See also Romans 12:17–21.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. (Compare Psa 27:14; Ro 12:17-19).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 20:22

• Malice
• Retaliation
• Waiting

In the dictionaries

• Advice
• Cease
• Counsel
• Naught
• Obscure
• Proclaim
• Pure
• Purpose
• Wait
• Proverb

Commentaries on Proverbs 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings