Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!”This phrase emphasizes the biblical principle of leaving vengeance to God. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, personal retribution was common, but the Law given through Moses (
Leviticus 19:18) instructed the Israelites to love their neighbors and not seek revenge. This aligns with the New Testament teaching in
Romans 12:19, where Paul instructs believers to leave room for God's wrath. The desire for personal vengeance can lead to a cycle of violence and bitterness, which is contrary to the peace and forgiveness taught by Jesus (
Matthew 5:38-39).
Wait on the LORD,
Waiting on the LORD is a recurring theme in Scripture, signifying trust and patience in God's timing and justice. In the historical context, waiting on God was a call to faithfulness amidst trials and injustices.Psalm 27:14 andIsaiah 40:31 both encourage believers to wait on the LORD, promising strength and renewal. This waiting is not passive but involves active trust and hope in God's promises and character. It reflects a deep reliance on God's sovereignty and wisdom, acknowledging that His ways and timing are perfect.
and He will save you.
This assurance of salvation is a promise of divine intervention and deliverance. In the Old Testament, God's salvation often referred to physical deliverance from enemies, as seen in the stories of the Exodus and the battles of Israel. However, it also points to spiritual salvation, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who delivers believers from sin and eternal death (John 3:16-17). This phrase connects to the broader biblical narrative of God's redemptive plan, where ultimate salvation is found in Christ, the true Savior. It reassures believers that God is their protector and deliverer, both in temporal circumstances and in the eternal sense.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The SpeakerThe author of Proverbs, traditionally King Solomon, who is imparting wisdom to the reader or listener.
2.
The LORDRefers to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, who is portrayed as the ultimate deliverer and judge.
3.
The Reader/ListenerThe intended audience of Proverbs, which includes the people of Israel and, by extension, all who seek wisdom from the Scriptures.
4.
The Context of EvilThe situation or event where one might feel wronged or harmed, prompting a desire for personal vengeance.
5.
DeliveranceThe act of God intervening to bring justice or relief to those who wait on Him.
Teaching Points
Trust in God's JusticeBelievers are called to trust that God is just and will right the wrongs in His perfect timing.
Patience in AdversityWaiting on the Lord requires patience and faith, especially when wronged. This patience is a testament to one's faith in God's sovereignty.
Avoiding BitternessSeeking personal revenge can lead to bitterness and sin. By leaving vengeance to God, believers can maintain a pure heart.
Active WaitingWaiting on the Lord is not passive; it involves prayer, seeking God's will, and maintaining a righteous life.
Reflecting Christ's CharacterBy not avenging ourselves, we reflect the character of Christ, who entrusted Himself to the Father even in suffering.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Proverbs 20:22?
2.How can we apply "do not say, 'I will avenge this evil'" today?
3.What does Proverbs 20:22 teach about trusting God's timing for justice?
4.How does Romans 12:19 reinforce the message in Proverbs 20:22?
5.Why is waiting on the Lord crucial for overcoming personal grievances?
6.How can Proverbs 20:22 guide us in responding to personal offenses?
7.How does Proverbs 20:22 guide Christians in responding to personal injustice or wrongs?
8.What does Proverbs 20:22 reveal about God's role in justice and vengeance?
9.How can Proverbs 20:22 be applied in modern-day conflicts or disputes?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 20?
11.What does the Bible advise about handling mean people?
12.How can we determine whether the psalm’s language of vengeance (Psalm 109) is historically or culturally rooted rather than universally prescriptive?
13.How can the “eye for an eye” principle (Leviticus 24:19–20) be reconciled with New Testament teachings like “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:38–39)?
14.What drives a man to seek vengeance so ruthlessly?What Does Proverbs 20:22 Mean
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!”“Do not say, ‘I will avenge this evil!’” (Proverbs 20:22a)
• Revenge is explicitly forbidden. God reserves justice for Himself (Romans 12:19;Deuteronomy 32:35).
• Personal retaliation escalates sin instead of ending it (Proverbs 24:29;Matthew 5:39).
• Choosing restraint reflects trust in God’s character and keeps our own hearts from bitterness (Ephesians 4:31–32;1 Peter 3:9).
• By refusing to repay evil with evil, believers mirror Christ, who “when He suffered, He did not threaten” (1 Peter 2:23).
Wait on the LORD“Wait on the LORD…” (Proverbs 20:22b)
• Waiting is active dependence—expecting God to act while continuing to obey Him (Psalm 37:7–9;Isaiah 40:31).
• It involves prayer (Psalm 25:5), patience (James 5:7–8), and confidence that God’s timing is perfect (Habakkuk 2:3).
• Waiting guards us from impulsive words and deeds that dishonor Christ (Psalm 141:3;Proverbs 14:29).
• Even when wronged, believers fix their eyes on the Lord, not on the offense (Micah 7:7;Lamentations 3:25–26).
He will save you“…and He will save you.” (Proverbs 20:22c)
• God promises deliverance—sometimes in this life, always in eternity (Psalm 34:17–19;2 Thessalonians 1:6–7).
• His salvation may appear as vindication, protection, inner peace, or ultimate justice at Christ’s return (Psalm 37:39–40;Revelation 19:11).
• Trusting His salvation frees us to bless our enemies (Luke 6:27–28) and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:20–21).
• The cross proves God’s commitment to rescue; He did not spare His own Son, so He will not fail us in lesser battles (Romans 8:32).
summaryProverbs 20:22 calls believers to lay down the impulse for personal revenge, actively trust God’s timing, and rest in His certain deliverance. By refusing retaliation, waiting on the Lord, and relying on His saving power, we honor His sovereignty, reflect Christ’s example, and experience His faithful protection.
(22)
Wait on the Lord and he shall save thee.--Do not look for vengeance on enemies (for they are to be forgiven), but for deliverance from their attacks; forget their malice, remember only God's love for thee, and trust in Him. (Comp.
1Peter 3:13,
Romans 8:28.)
Verse 22. -
Say not thou, I will recompenseevil (
Proverbs 24:29). The
jus talonis is the natural feeling of man, to do to others as they have done unto you, to requite evil with evil. But the moralist teaches a better lesson, urging men not to study revenge, and approaching nearer to Christ's injunction, which gives the law of charity, "Whatsoever
ye would (
οπσα α}ν θέλητε) that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" (
Matthew 7:12). The Christian rule is expounded fully by St. Paul (
Romans 12:14, 17, etc). It was not unknown to the Jews; for we read in Tobit 4:15, "Do that to no man which thou hatest;" and Hillel enjoins, "Do not thou that to thy neighbour which thou hatest when it is done to thee." Even the heathens had excogitated this great principle. There is a saying of Aristotle, preserved by Diogenes Laertius, "Act towards your friends as you would wish them to act towards you." The Chinese have a proverb, "Water does not remain on the mountain, or vengeance in a great mind."
Wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee. The pious writer urges the injured person to commit his cause to the Lord, not in the hope of seeing vengeance taken on his enemy, but in the certainty that God will help him to bear the wrong and deliver him in his own good time and way. The Christian takes St. Peter's view, "Who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good?" (
1 Peter 3:13), knowing that "all things work together for good to them that love God" (
Romans 8:28; comp. Ecclus. 2:2, 6). Septuagint, "Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy, but wait on the Lord, that (
ἵνα) he may help thee." The last clause may be grammatically rendered thus, but it is more in accordance with the spirit st' the proverb, as Delitzsch observes, to regard it as a promise. Vulgate,
et liberabit te.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Do notאַל־(’al-)Adverb
Strong's 408:Notsay,תֹּאמַ֥ר(tō·mar)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, say“I will avengeאֲשַׁלְּמָה־(’ă·šal·lə·māh-)Verb - Piel - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 7999:To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocatethis evil!”רָ֑ע(rā‘)Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451:Bad, evilWaitקַוֵּ֥ה(qaw·wêh)Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 6960:To bind together, collect, to expecton the LORD,לַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה(Yah·weh)Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israeland He will deliverוְיֹ֣שַֽׁע(wə·yō·ša‘)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3467:To be open, wide, free, to be safe, to free, succoryou.לָֽךְ׃(lāḵ)Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew
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OT Poetry: Proverbs 20:22 Don't say I will pay back evil (Prov. Pro Pr) 
