Romans 12:20
18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
- KJV
- Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
- WEB
- Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
- ASV
- But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.
- DARBY
- If therefore thine enemy should hunger, feed him; if he should thirst, give him drink; for, so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.
- BLB
- Rather, “If your enemy should hunger, feed him; if he should thirst, give him a drink; for doing this, you will heap coals of fire upon his head.”
- ÅB
- Hvis fienden din er sulten, gi ham mat; er han tørst, gi ham å drikke! For når du gjør dette, samler du gloende kull på hans hode.
- OTB
- I stedet,
hvis din fiende er sulten, gi ham mat;
hvis han er tørst, gi ham noe å drikke.
Ved å gjøre dette, vil du samle glødende kull på hans hode. - B1930
- Om da din fiende hungrer, så gi ham å ete; om han tørster, gi ham å drikke! for når du gjør dette, sanker du gloende kull på hans hode.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 25:21–22
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Read in contextMatthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Read in contextLuke 6:27
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Read in contextExodus 23:4–5
If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
Read in context2 Kings 6:22
“Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.”
Read in context1 Samuel 24:16–19
When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud
Read in context1 Samuel 26:21
Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”
Read in contextSong of Solomon 8:6–7
Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all.
Read in context