Each passage below is quoted from the King James Version and followed by a short note on how it helps us leave justice with God.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Romans 12:19 (KJV)
This is the best-known form of the vengeance is mine bible verse. Paul quotes the Old Testament to believers who were being mistreated and tells them to step back. Giving place unto wrath means making room for God to act instead of grabbing the sword yourself.
To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
Deuteronomy 32:35 (KJV)
Here is the original source of the vengeance is mine bible verse, the one Paul had in mind, from the Song of Moses. God claims two things for himself, vengeance and recompence, and promises that wrongdoing does not stand forever. The timing is his, which is why the verse calls for patience.
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Hebrews 10:30 (KJV)
The writer of Hebrews repeats the Deuteronomy line of the vengeance is mine bible verse as a warning that God’s justice is real and reaches everyone, including his own people. It reminds us that the one who judges is never absent, and that we too stand under that same fair judgment.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Romans 12:17 (KJV)
Just before the vengeance is mine bible verse, Paul closes the door on payback in every form. Honest conduct, even toward people who have not been honest with us, becomes a quiet witness that our faith is not driven by grudges.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Romans 12:18 (KJV)
Paul is realistic: peace is not always possible, because it takes two sides. But he asks us to do our whole part. Trusting the vengeance is mine bible verse frees us to pursue peace without needing to win the argument first.
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.
Romans 12:20 (KJV)
Kindness toward an enemy is the practical side of the vengeance is mine bible verse and of trusting God with justice. Many readers see the coals of fire as the burning shame or change of heart that generosity can awaken, rather than a trick to hurt someone.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21 (KJV)
Beside the vengeance is mine bible verse, this verse names what is really at stake. Revenge lets evil win by making us like the one who harmed us. Doing good, patiently and on purpose, is how a believer actually defeats it.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Proverbs 20:22 (KJV)
Proverbs gives the same instruction as the vengeance is mine bible verse in plain wisdom form. Notice the promise attached: wait on the LORD and he shall save thee. Waiting is not weakness here; it is trust that rescue will come from God and not from our own scheming.
Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
Proverbs 24:29 (KJV)
This is the thought of every wounded heart, he did it to me, so I will do it to him. In the spirit of the vengeance is mine bible verse, Scripture names that thought and tells us not to say it, because measuring out equal pain never actually heals anyone.
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:18 (KJV)
Even in the law of Moses, the vengeance is mine bible verse has company, since avenging and grudge-bearing are set against loving your neighbour. The verse ends with I am the LORD, a reminder that the authority behind this command is the same God who claims vengeance for himself.
O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
Psalms 94:1 (KJV)
This psalm shows what to do with the urge for justice that the vengeance is mine bible verse addresses: pray it. The psalmist does not take revenge but cries out to God, twice repeating that vengeance is his. Honest prayer is the safe place to bring anger.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 5:44 (KJV)
Jesus pushes the teaching further. Not only do we refrain from revenge, we pray for those who hurt us. This is the New Testament heart behind the older words about God repaying.
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1 Peter 2:23 (KJV)
Peter points to Jesus as the model. He did not answer insults with insults. He committed himself to the righteous Judge, which is exactly what the vengeance is mine bible verse invites every believer to do.
That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Genesis 18:25 (KJV)
Abraham’s question is the foundation of the vengeance is mine bible verse and all this teaching. If the Judge of all the earth always does right, then handing a wrong over to him is the safest thing we can do. His justice is not careless or cruel.
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psalms 37:7 (KJV)
It is hard to see the person who wronged us doing well. This psalm, a companion to the vengeance is mine bible verse, speaks to that exact pain, telling us to rest, wait and stop fretting. God sees the whole picture, even when the present looks unfair.
See that none render evil for evil unto any; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 (KJV)
Paul gives the church a simple habit: no evil for evil, and always pursue the good. Like the vengeance is mine bible verse, it applies to families, coworkers and neighbours alike, and it is the daily practice of trusting God with justice.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Luke 23:34 (KJV)
From the cross, Jesus lives out the vengeance is mine bible verse, the very thing Paul later teaches. Instead of calling for payback, he asks for forgiveness for those harming him. No one has ever had more right to vengeance, or shown more mercy.
The vengeance is mine bible verse begins in the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:35, where God declares that vengeance and recompence belong to him. Moses spoke these words near the end of his life, as Israel was about to enter the promised land. The song is partly a warning and partly a comfort: God sees how his people are treated by others, and he will deal with wrong in his own time and way.
The wording of the vengeance is mine bible verse has a clear sense of ownership. God does not say he permits vengeance or that he will assist it. He says it is his. That small possessive tells us the matter is not open for us to claim, in the same way you could not take something that belongs to a neighbour without asking.
Because the Song of Moses was taught to the whole nation, the idea became part of Israel’s shared memory. Later writers in both Testaments returned to the vengeance is mine bible verse, which shows how basic the principle is. Before we can apply it, it helps to know it was never a throwaway line but a foundation of how God asks his people to deal with wrongdoing.
The vengeance is mine bible verse in Deuteronomy 32:35 reads, in the King James Version, To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time. Two words stand out. Vengeance carries the idea of setting a wrong right, and recompence means paying back what is owed. Both are said to belong to God alone, so the verse is as much about who may act as it is about what will happen.
The phrase their foot shall slide in due time is a vivid picture of an evil person walking on ground that looks solid but is not. It suggests that wrongdoers are not as secure as they seem. Their downfall may be quiet or slow, but it is coming, and the verse stresses that it will arrive at the right moment, not necessarily the moment we would choose.
This is where many readers of the vengeance is mine bible verse find comfort. If the day of calamity is truly near for those who do harm, we do not need to push them over the edge. The verse invites us to stand still, trust, and let the slide happen without our hands on it.
When Paul quotes the vengeance is mine bible verse in Romans 12:19, he is writing to ordinary Christians in Rome who faced real hostility. He opens with Dearly beloved, a warm address that shows his purpose is pastoral, not harsh. He wants them safe and settled, not consumed by anger over what others have done to them.
His instruction in the vengeance is mine bible verse is plain: avenge not yourselves. The next phrase, give place unto wrath, is often read as leaving room for God’s anger to do its work. Instead of filling the space with our own retaliation, we leave it empty so that the only response in that space is God’s, which will be just where ours would be flawed.
Notice how Paul ties the command to Scripture: for it is written. He is not inventing a new rule. He is reminding believers that what they feel tempted to do has already been answered by God’s own word, and that trusting this word is a mark of mature faith.
Hebrews 10:30 repeats the vengeance is mine bible verse with a different emphasis: For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. In this chapter the writer is warning people who might drift away from Christ. The mention of vengeance is a reminder that God takes sin seriously, and that his justice is not a vague idea but a settled fact.
The verse ends with The Lord shall judge his people, which broadens the picture. God’s judgment is not only for outsiders or enemies. It applies to those who belong to him as well. That should humble anyone tempted to feel superior when quoting the vengeance is mine bible verse against someone else.
So the Hebrews passage balances the comfort of Romans. We can rest because God will set wrongs right, and we can also take care, because we answer to the same judge. A person who truly believes both halves tends to speak with more gentleness and less glee.
Why does the vengeance is mine bible verse say God keeps vengeance for himself? Part of the answer is knowledge. We see only part of any situation, while God knows every motive, every hidden cause and every consequence. Our idea of a fair payback is shaped by pain, and pain is a poor judge. God’s justice is never coloured by anger or by a wish to win.
Another part of the answer is purity. The vengeance is mine bible verse warns that revenge rarely stops where it should. A wrong that deserves one measure of correction easily becomes two or three in the heat of the moment, and then the other side answers in turn. The chain of retaliation can run for years, even generations, which is why Scripture closes the door at the start.
There is also mercy in the arrangement. Because God holds vengeance, he can also give space for repentance. The person who harmed you might yet turn. If we strike first, we may cut off the very change God was waiting to bring. Leaving the matter with him keeps every door open, including the door of grace.
A common question is whether the vengeance is mine bible verse means we should never seek justice. It does not. Vengeance is personal payback driven by anger, while justice is the fair and orderly righting of a wrong. Romans 13 describes governing authorities as servants of God for good, so courts, police and fair processes have a real place in a world with real harm.
If you have been defrauded, abused or threatened, reporting it and seeking legal help is not the same as taking revenge. You are asking a rightful authority to do what it exists to do. The vengeance is mine bible verse speaks to the private urge to hurt back, not to the careful pursuit of safety and fairness.
The test is the motive. Ask whether you want the wrong corrected and others protected, or whether you want the other person to suffer. The first can be pursued with a clear conscience and prayer. The second is the very thing Paul tells us to hand to God, and it is worth being honest with yourself about which one is driving you.
The phrase give place unto wrath has been read in two ways, and both are helpful. Some read it as giving place to the wrath of God, leaving room for his judgment to work. Others read it as giving place to your own wrath, allowing it time to cool instead of acting on it. In practice, the two meanings point the same direction: step back.
Stepping back is an active choice. It might mean closing a message you were about to send, walking out of a room, or waiting a night before replying. These small pauses are how people actually put the vengeance is mine bible verse into practice, because they break the link between feeling and action.
The word place also suggests space and time. God is not hurried, and we do not have to be either. When we give a situation room, we often find our view of it changes, and what looked like an urgent need for payback turns into a quieter desire for peace. That shift is itself a work of God in us.
Right after the vengeance is mine bible verse, Paul gives the positive command: Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. The wording treats evil as an opponent that can win in two ways. It wins when it harms us, but it also wins when it turns us into people who harm in return. Refusing revenge is how we deny it the second victory.
Doing good to an enemy under the vengeance is mine bible verse does not mean pretending nothing happened. You can name a wrong honestly and still choose a generous response. A small act of kindness, a sincere prayer, or simply refusing to spread the story can be a real act of goodness, and it is often far harder than striking back.
Over time, this approach changes the person who practises it. Bitterness fades when we keep choosing the good. People who live this way often say that the greatest freedom they found was not seeing the other person punished but no longer being tied to them by anger. That is what overcoming evil looks like in daily life.
Jesus did not only teach the vengeance is mine bible verse; he lived it. Peter writes that when he was reviled, he reviled not again, and when he suffered, he threatened not. He committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. This is the pattern for every believer who has been treated unfairly.
On the cross he prayed, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. In the moment of the greatest injustice in history, there was no call for payback. He trusted the Father and extended mercy. If anyone could have claimed the right to retaliate, it was he, and he chose otherwise.
This changes how we read the vengeance is mine bible verse. It is not a cold rule from a distant judge but a way of life shown by the Son. When we hand our hurts to God, we walk the same road Jesus walked, and we can do so with confidence that the one who judges is also the one who loves us.
Jesus’ command in Matthew 5:44 to love your enemies is the natural companion to the vengeance is mine bible verse. If God holds the right to repay, our job shifts from punishing to blessing. We are asked to pray for those who persecute us, which is a very different use of our energy than planning how to get even.
This does not mean feeling warm toward someone who has hurt you. Biblical love here is a decision about how we act and what we ask of God on their behalf. Many people begin by praying simply that the other person would be treated mercifully, and the feeling follows slowly. You can read more in our page on Bible verses about loving your enemies.
Living out the vengeance is mine bible verse by loving an enemy also protects the one who loves. Hatred ties a person to the memory of the wrong, while prayer loosens the knot. By turning toward blessing, we step out of the cycle and remain free, which is exactly the outcome Scripture promises to those who trust God with justice.
Forgiveness and the vengeance is mine bible verse work together. To forgive is to cancel the debt you feel someone owes you, and to leave vengeance with God is to admit you cannot collect it anyway. One is the inward release and the other is the outward trust, and each supports the other.
Forgiving through the vengeance is mine bible verse does not mean excusing the wrong or allowing it to continue. You can forgive and still set firm boundaries, seek accountability and protect yourself. What you give up is the right to hurt in return. Our page on Bible verses about forgiveness explores this balance in more detail.
Forgiveness is often a process rather than a single moment. You may need to forgive the same wound many times as memories return. Each time, handing it back to God is a way of saying that the matter is in better hands than yours. Over weeks and months, that repeated choice usually loosens the grip of the pain.
Proverbs 20:22 says, Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. Waiting is the hardest part of the vengeance is mine bible verse and of trusting God with justice, because wrongs often feel urgent and unresolved. The verse does not promise a quick fix. It promises that the Lord will save, which means he will act in his own time.
Psalm 37 adds practical guidance for the wait: rest in the LORD, do not fret, and do not envy those who seem to prosper through wrongdoing. The psalm reminds us that prosperity gained by evil is fragile, and that those who wait on God will inherit lasting good. It gives patience a reason beyond simply gritting your teeth.
If you are in a long season of waiting, small habits help: a daily prayer for the situation, a passage to memorize, and a trusted friend to listen. You can find more encouragement on Bible verses about patience. Waiting on God through the vengeance is mine bible verse is not passive; it is steady trust practised day by day.
Trusting the vengeance is mine bible verse does not require pretending you are not angry. The Bible is full of honest anger, especially in the Psalms. Psalm 94 opens with a cry to the God to whom vengeance belongeth, asking him to shew thyself. The psalmist feels the injustice deeply and brings it to God instead of acting on it.
This is a model for anyone burdened by a wrong who is learning the vengeance is mine bible verse. Pray the anger out loud. Tell God exactly what happened and how it feels. You do not need polished words. Many people find that writing a prayer or a letter they never send helps them name the hurt without causing more damage.
After you have brought the anger to God, you can ask him for peace and wisdom about what to do next. Anger processed in prayer tends to lose its sharp edge, leaving a clearer mind for the practical steps of safety, boundaries and, in time, forgiveness. Your feelings are not sinful in themselves; it is what we do with them that matters.
At the heart of the vengeance is mine bible verse is a question of trust. Abraham asked, Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? The answer throughout Scripture is yes. God is not careless with justice. He sees what is hidden and will weigh every deed with perfect fairness, which is something no human court can promise.
Trust grows when we remember what we know about God’s character: he is holy, patient, good and merciful. These qualities mean that his justice will never be cruel or arbitrary. If you struggle to believe this, reading about trusting God may strengthen you.
It also helps to remember that trust is a decision before it is a feeling. You can say, God, I do not understand why this happened, but I give it to you, and I trust you to judge rightly. That honest sentence, repeated as needed, is a quiet act of worship and a real step toward peace.
One misunderstanding is that the vengeance is mine bible verse means we should do nothing about abuse or injustice. In reality, Scripture elsewhere calls us to defend the weak, speak up for the oppressed and seek protection from harm. Leaving personal revenge to God never means staying silent or staying in danger.
Another misunderstanding is using the vengeance is mine bible verse as a threat, saying that God will get you for what you did. Paul quoted it to comfort the wronged, not to bully others. If we use it mainly to wish punishment on someone, we have missed its spirit and turned a promise of justice into a tool for our own anger.
A third mistake is thinking the vengeance is mine bible verse means God is eager to punish. The wider Bible shows a God who is slow to anger and rich in mercy, who desires that all would repent. His justice and his mercy are not at odds. The fair reading holds both together, and so should we.
Putting the vengeance is mine bible verse into practice starts with small, concrete choices. First, pause before reacting. Give yourself a set time, such as twenty-four hours, before sending any angry message or making any decision driven by hurt. This simple rule has spared many people regrets they would otherwise carry for years.
Second, pray specifically. Name the person, name the wrong, and hand both to God in your own words. Ask him to deal with the situation as he sees fit, and ask for your own heart to be kept soft. If you find it hard to pray for them, start by praying that God would be merciful to you in your struggle.
Third, do one small good. It might be as simple as speaking well of the person, refusing to gossip about them, or sending a short, kind note when it is safe to do so. These acts are not for show; they are how we obey Romans 12 and keep bitterness from taking root.
Peace is the quiet fruit of the vengeance is mine bible verse and of trusting God with justice. Paul says, live peaceably with all men, as much as lieth in you. The phrase acknowledges that we cannot control other people, but we can control our own part. When we do what we can and leave the rest to God, a weight lifts that we were never meant to carry.
This peace is not the absence of pain. It is a settled confidence that the matter is in good hands. Many believers describe it as finally being able to sleep, or to think of the person without a spike of anger. If you are looking for this kind of calm, see our collection on Bible verses about peace.
The peace of God is also contagious. Households, churches and workplaces where people refuse payback tend to be steadier and safer. By leaving vengeance to God, you may become a quiet source of calm for others who are watching how you handle your own hurt, and that is a witness worth having.
Readers often ask, what if the person never faces any consequences? The Bible admits that this sometimes seems to happen in this life, and Psalm 73 wrestles with exactly this. The answer it reaches is that God’s judgment is not limited to what we can see, and that every person finally stands before him.
Others ask whether the vengeance is mine bible verse makes it wrong to want justice. It is not. The desire for fairness is placed in us by God. What Scripture addresses is how we pursue it: through prayer, honest processes and trust, not through personal payback. Wanting things made right is healthy, and bringing that desire to God is the right place to start.
Some ask whether they will ever stop hurting. The path of releasing vengeance often brings healing slowly, but it does bring it. Pairing prayer with trusted counsel, and in serious cases professional help, is wise. You are not asked to heal alone, and God often works through people who listen and care.
The vengeance is mine bible verse is not only for dramatic betrayals. It also applies to small, daily slights: a rude comment, a careless coworker, an unfair remark online. Each of these is a chance to practise leaving justice with God, and each small choice builds the habit for the bigger moments when they come.
Consider memorizing Romans 12:17-21 as a block alongside the vengeance is mine bible verse. These five verses cover almost every situation: no evil for evil, live peaceably, avenge not yourselves, feed your enemy, overcome evil with good. Reciting them when you feel anger rise gives you an anchor and a plan at the moment you most need it.
Finally, remember that you do not carry this alone. The same God who claims vengeance also offers mercy and strength to those who ask. If you want more on how he extends grace, visit our page on Bible verses about mercy. Trust him, and walk forward lighter than before.
If this teaching has helped you, these related pages may also encourage you: Bible verses about revenge, Bible verses about forgiving others, Bible verses about forgiveness and healing, Bible verses about prayer and forgiveness, Bible verses about God’s mercy, Bible verses about trust, Bible verses about peace of mind, Bible verses about peace in difficult times, Bible verses about trusting God in hard times, Bible verses about God’s love.
To study these verses in more depth, try Bible Gateway, Bible Hub, Bible Study Tools, Blue Letter Bible.
The vengeance is mine bible verse appears first in Deuteronomy 32:35, in the Song of Moses. Paul quotes it in Romans 12:19, and Hebrews 10:30 repeats it. In all three places the message is the same: God claims the right to repay wrongdoing, so believers should not take revenge themselves.
The vengeance is mine bible verse means God alone has the authority and the perfect knowledge to repay wrongdoing fairly. Believers are told to avoid personal payback and trust him to judge in his own time, while they pursue peace and do good to those who have wronged them.
No. Scripture supports fair courts, protecting the vulnerable and speaking up against abuse. The vengeance is mine bible verse addresses private revenge driven by anger. Seeking help from proper authorities is a different thing, and it can be done prayerfully while still leaving final judgment to God.
God speaks these words through Moses in Deuteronomy 32:35. Paul quotes them in Romans 12:19, and the writer of Hebrews repeats them in Hebrews 10:30. Each writer presents the vengeance is mine bible verse as the Lord’s own declaration about who has the right to repay wrong.
To live out the vengeance is mine bible verse, begin with honest prayer about your anger, then pause before acting on it. Ask God to handle the situation, do one small good toward the person if it is safe, and memorize Romans 12:17-21. Over time these habits usually soften the desire for payback.
Feeling anger is not a sin in itself, and the vengeance is mine bible verse addresses what we do with it. The Psalms show people bringing deep anger to God. The danger lies in acting on it through revenge or letting it harden into bitterness. Bring the feeling to God in prayer and ask him for peace.
