Proverbs 20:22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 20:22

Those that live in this world must expect to have injuries done them, affronts given them, and trouble wrongfully created them, for we dwell among briers. Now here we are told what to do when we have wrong done us. 1. We must not avenge ourselves, no, nor so much as think of revenge, or design it: ?Say not thou, no, not in thy heart, I will recompense evil for evil. Do not please thyself with the thought that some time or other thou shalt have an opportunity of being quits with him. Do not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 20:22

Say not thou, I will recompense evil ,.... With evil; do an injury to one that has done one to you; private revenge is not to be taken, but should be left to God, to whom vengeance belongs, Deuteronomy 32:35 ; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee ; commit thyself and cause to God; leave it with him to avenge thy wrongs; wait upon him in the way of thy duty, and wait his own time to do thee justice; he will at the proper season, and in his own way, save thee from thine enemy,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 20:22

I will recompense evil - Wait on the Lord; judgment is his, and his judgments are sure. In the mean time pray for the conversion of your enemy. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 20:20-23

Smitten sins I. HATRED TO PARENTS . ( Proverbs 20:20 .) 1 . It is unnatural beyond most vices, like hating the hand that lifts food to the mouth. 2 . It is disobedience to a primary Divine command. 3 . It incurs the Divine curse and the darkest doom. II. THE VICE OF GRASPING . ( Proverbs 20:21 .) It springs from excessive, irregular, disordered desire, and generally from an ill-led life. We must wait upon God's order; must distinguish the necessary from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 20:22

Say not thou, I will recompense evil ( 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 ἂν θέλητε ) that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" ( Matthew 7:12 ). The Christian rule is expounded fully by St.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 20:22

Revenge and its antidote I. THE SIN AND FOLLY OF REVENGE . This passion appears to spring from a natural instinct; it pretends to justify itself as the fair return for some wrong, and it offers a compensation for the Wrong suffered in the triumph which it gains over the wrong doer. But it is both culpable and foolish. 1 . It is culpable. Even if revenge were desirable, we have no right to wreak it on the head of the offender. We are not his judge and executioner. God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 20:22

( Proverbs 24:29 ) Resentment and forgiveness The Christian doctrine of forgiveness finds here a distinct anticipation; but that doctrine was not found in the highway, but rather in the byway of pre-Christian morals. It made no mark. It did not find its way into the thought and the feeling of the people. I. WE MUST EXPECT TO BE WRONGED , OR TO BELIEVE OURSELVES WRONGED , AS WE GO ON OUR WAY . So conflicting are our interests, so various our views,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 20:22

Proverbs 20:22. Say not thou, I will recompense evil While we live in the world, we must expect to have injuries done us, affronts given, and much trouble wrongfully created to us. But we must not revenge ourselves; no, not so much as design or think of any such thing. We must not say, no, not in our hearts, I will return evil for evil; but must wait on the Lord, to whom it belongs to execute vengeance, and to deliver his people from all their enemies. We must refer ourselves to him, and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 20:1-30

Honesty (20:1-30)Wise people will not become drunkards, will not needlessly anger those in authority, will avoid quarrelling and will work to support themselves (20:1-4). They will also have the ability to draw out the deepest feelings and intentions of those with whom they deal (5). Many people boast of their loyalty but few practise it. To live honestly is the best way to guarantee a good future for one’s children (6-7). A king learns by experience to discern between right and wrong in cases... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 20:22

on = for. read more

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