New King James Version
Proverbs 20:22
22Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
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 Living Translation (NLT)Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.
Context of Proverbs 20:22
20Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. 21An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end. Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you. 23Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, And dishonest scales are not good. 24A man’s steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way?
Read all of Proverbs 20Proverbs 20:22 word by word
אַל־תֹּאמַ֥ר אֲשַׁלְּמָה־רָ֑ע קַוֵּ֥ה לַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה וְיֹ֣שַֽׁע לָֽךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 20:22
- Proverbs 17:13Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.
- Proverbs 24:29Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”
- Deuteronomy 32:35Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.’
- Romans 12:17Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
- 1 Peter 3:9not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
- 2 Samuel 6:12Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.
- Psalms 27:14Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!
- Psalms 37:34Wait on the Lord, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
- Isaiah 40:31But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
- Lamentations 3:25The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.
- 1 Peter 2:23who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
- 1 Peter 4:19Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to 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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries