King James Version

Proverbs 20:22

Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

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Hebrew

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אַלalnotאַלparticle, negative — “not”H408not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothingnay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than.תֹּאמַ֥רtomarsayאָמַרverb, qal, jussive, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “say”, a wish or indirect commandH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…אֲשַׁלְּמָהashalmahmake amendsשָׁלַםverb, piel, cohortative, 1st person, common, singular — “make amends”, a determination or requestH7999to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications)make amends, (make an) end, finish, full, give again, make good, (re-) pay (again), (make) (to) (be at) peace(-able), that is perfect, perform, (make) prosper(-ous), recompense, render, requite, make restitution, restore, reward, [idiom] s…רָ֑עrabadרַעadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “bad”, the ordinary formH7451bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery…קַוֵּ֥הqavehgatherקָוָהverb, piel, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “gather”, a commandH6960to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expectgather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).לַֽ֝יהוָ֗הlayhvahto Jehovahיְהֹוָהpreposition, noun, proper name — “to Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).וְיֹ֣שַֽׁעveyoshaand be safeיָשַׁעconjunction, verb, hiphil, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and be safe”, an unfinished actionH3467properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor[idiom] at all, avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save(-iour), get victory.לָֽךְlakhetoלָֽךְpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, feminine, singular — “to”to

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Say not thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee.

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The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.

Young’s Literal Translation

Do not say, 'I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.

World English Bible

Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.

Darby Translation

Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.

Douay-Rheims

Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)