God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 17:13
13Whoever pays back evil for good— evil will never leave his home.
Proverbs 17:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
- New International Version (NIV)Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good.
- English Standard Version (ESV)If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.
Context of Proverbs 17:13
11A rebel looks for nothing but evil. Therefore, a cruel messenger will be sent ⌞to punish⌟ him. 12Better to meet a bear robbed of its cubs than a fool ⌞carried away⌟ with his stupidity. Whoever pays back evil for good— evil will never leave his home. 14Starting a quarrel is ⌞like⌟ opening a floodgate, so stop before the argument gets out of control. 15Whoever approves of wicked people and whoever condemns righteous people is disgusting to the Lord.
Read all of Proverbs 17Proverbs 17:13 word by word
מֵשִׁ֣יב רָ֭עָה תַּ֣חַת טוֹבָ֑ה לֹא־תָמ֥וּשׁ רָ֝עָ֗ה מִבֵּיתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 17:13
- 1 Samuel 24:17He told David, “You are more righteous than I. You treated me well while I treated you badly.
- 1 Samuel 31:2The Philistines caught up to Saul and his sons. They killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.
- 2 Samuel 21:1In the time of David, there was a famine for three successive years, and David asked the Lord’s advice about it. The Lord answered, “It’s because of Saul and his family. They are guilty of murder because they killed the people of Gibeon.”
- Psalms 35:12I am devastated because they pay me back with evil instead of good.
- Psalms 38:20They pay me back with evil instead of good, and they accuse me because I try to do what is good.
- Psalms 55:12If an enemy had insulted me, then I could bear it. If someone who hated me had attacked me, then I could hide from him.
- Psalms 109:4In return for my love, they accuse me, but I pray for them.
- Jeremiah 18:20Good should not be paid back with evil. They dig a pit to take my life. Remember how I stood in your presence and pleaded for them in order to turn your anger away from them.
- Matthew 27:5So he threw the money into the temple, went away, and hanged himself.
- Romans 12:17Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you. Focus your thoughts on those things that are considered noble.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15Make sure that no one ever pays back one wrong with another wrong. Instead, always try to do what is good for each other and everyone else.
- 1 Peter 3:9Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you, or ridicule those who ridicule you. Instead, bless them, because you were called to inherit a blessing.
Commentaries on Proverbs 17:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Whoso rewardeth evil for good - Here is a most awful warning. As many persons are guilty of the sin of ingratitude, and of paying kindness with unkindness, and good with evil, it is no wonder we find so much wretchedness among men; for God's word cannot fail; evil shall not depart from the houses and families of such persons.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13Verse 13 To render evil for good is devilish. He that does so, brings a curse upon his family.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. (Compare Psa 7:4; 35:12). evil--injury to another (Pr 13:21).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 17:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 17
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries