Trust God fully to protect and vindicate rather than seeking personal vengeance.
“Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.” (Proverbs 20:22) emphasizes the importance of resisting the urge to strike back or to retaliate when someone wrongs us. Proverbs is traditionally attributed to King Solomon, who ruled the united kingdom of Israel from approximately 971 BC to 931 BC. This verse reflects the wisdom that when we seek vengeance on our own, we may escalate conflict and miss out on trusting God to deliver true justice. By urging believers to wait for the LORD, the passage calls for patience and confidence in God’s sovereignty rather than personal retribution.
The counsel in “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’” (v.22) aligns with scriptural teachings throughout the Bible that caution against returning evil for evil (Romans 12:17). This idea is also echoed in instructions to pursue peace and leave judgment to the Lord (Romans 12:19). The verse concludes by assuring that “He will save you” (v.22), meaning that the faithful can rely on God’s ultimate protection and intervention.
Followers of Jesus observe this principle in the New Testament, where Christ teaches love for enemies and kindness toward offenders (Matthew 5:44). Rather than seeking revenge, believers are encouraged to extend mercy, reflecting God’s character. In practicing patient faith, we acknowledge that God’s wisdom far exceeds our own, and we trust Him to resolve injustices in ways we cannot always foresee.
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Proverbs 20:22 meaning
“Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.” (Proverbs 20:22) emphasizes the importance of resisting the urge to strike back or to retaliate when someone wrongs us. Proverbs is traditionally attributed to King Solomon, who ruled the united kingdom of Israel from approximately 971 BC to 931 BC. This verse reflects the wisdom that when we seek vengeance on our own, we may escalate conflict and miss out on trusting God to deliver true justice. By urging believers to wait for the LORD, the passage calls for patience and confidence in God’s sovereignty rather than personal retribution.
The counsel in “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’” (v.22) aligns with scriptural teachings throughout the Bible that caution against returning evil for evil (Romans 12:17). This idea is also echoed in instructions to pursue peace and leave judgment to the Lord (Romans 12:19). The verse concludes by assuring that “He will save you” (v.22), meaning that the faithful can rely on God’s ultimate protection and intervention.
Followers of Jesus observe this principle in the New Testament, where Christ teaches love for enemies and kindness toward offenders (Matthew 5:44). Rather than seeking revenge, believers are encouraged to extend mercy, reflecting God’s character. In practicing patient faith, we acknowledge that God’s wisdom far exceeds our own, and we trust Him to resolve injustices in ways we cannot always foresee.