New Living Translation
Proverbs 17:13
13If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.
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
11Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished. 12It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness. If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house. 14Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out. 15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable 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 24:17And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.
- 1 Samuel 31:2The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua.
- 2 Samuel 21:1There was a famine during David’s reign that lasted for three years, so David asked the Lord about it. And the Lord said, “The famine has come because Saul and his family are guilty of murdering the Gibeonites.”
- Psalms 35:12They repay me evil for good. I am sick with despair.
- Psalms 38:20They repay me evil for good and oppose me for pursuing good.
- Psalms 55:12It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them.
- Psalms 109:4I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations even as I am praying for them!
- Jeremiah 18:20Should they repay evil for good? They have dug a pit to kill me, though I pleaded for them and tried to protect them from your anger.
- Matthew 27:5Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.
- Romans 12:17Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
- 1 Peter 3:9Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his 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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries