King James Version

Romans 12:20

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.

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Greek

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The KJV’s Greek text (Textus Receptus) does not include “On the contrary” (ἀλλ᾽) before If here.

ἀλλὰallaThereforeἀλλάconjunction — “Therefore”G235but, except, however.Thereforeἐὰνeanifἐάνconjunction — “if”G1437if.ifπεινᾷpeinahungerπεινάω (peinaō)verb, present active subjunctive, 3rd person singular — “hunger”, an ongoing or repeated actionG3983I am hungry, needy, desire earnestly.hungerὁhotheὁarticle, nominative, singular, masculine — “the”, the subject formG3588the, the definite article.ἐχθρόςechthrosenemyἐχθρόςadjective, nominative, singular, masculine — “enemy”, the subject formG2190hated, hostile; subst: an enemy.σουsouyouσύ (su)personal pronoun, genitive, singular — “you”, the of-formG4771you.ψώμιζεpsōmizefeedψωμίζω (psōmizō)verb, present active imperative, 2nd person singular — “feed”, an ongoing or repeated actionG5595I feed, dole out.This verse uses “feed”.feedαὐτόνautonhimαὐτός (autos)personal pronoun, accusative, singular, masculine — “him”, the object formG846he, she, it, they, them, same.himἐὰνeanifἐάνconjunction — “if”G1437if.ifδιψᾷdipsahe thirstδιψάω (dipsaō)verb, present active subjunctive, 3rd person singular — “he thirst”, an ongoing or repeated actionG1372I thirst for, desire earnestly.he thirstπότιζεpotizegiveποτίζω (potizō)verb, present active imperative, 2nd person singular — “give”, an ongoing or repeated actionG4222I cause to drink, give to drink; irrigate, water.giveαὐτόνautonhimαὐτός (autos)personal pronoun, accusative, singular, masculine — “him”, the object formG846he, she, it, they, them, same.himτοῦτοtoutoin soοὗτος (houtos)demonstrative pronoun, accusative, singular, neuter — “in so”, the object formG3778this; he, she, it.in soγὰρgarforγάρconjunction — “for”G1063for.ποιῶνpoiōndoingποιέω (poieō)verb, present active participle, nominative, singular, masculine — “doing”, an ongoing or repeated actionG4160(a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause.doingἄνθρακαςanthrakascoalsἄνθραξ (anthrax)noun, accusative, plural, masculine — “coals”, the object formG440coal, charcoal, a burning coal.coalsπυρὸςpurosof fireπῦρ (pur)noun, genitive, singular, neuter — “of fire”, the of-formG4442fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire.This verse uses “fire”.of fireσωρεύσειςsōreuseisto pile upσωρεύω (sōreuō)verb, future active indicative, 2nd person singular — “to pile up”, an action still aheadG4987I heap up, load.ἐπὶepionἐπίpreposition — “on”G1909on, to, against, on the basis of, at.onτὴνtēntheὁ (ho)article, accusative, singular, feminine — “the”, the object formG3588the, the definite article.κεφαλὴνkephalēnheadκεφαλή (kephalē)noun, accusative, singular, feminine — “head”, the object formG2776(a) the head, (b) met: a corner stone, uniting two walls; head, ruler, lord.headαὐτοῦautouheαὐτός (autos)personal pronoun, genitive, singular, masculine — “he”, the of-formG846he, she, it, they, them, same.

Literal (Young’s Literal Translation)

I will recompense again, saith the Lord;' if, then, thine enemy doth hunger, feed him; if he doth thirst, give him drink; for this doing, coals of fire thou shalt heap upon his head;

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.

Young’s Literal Translation

I will recompense again, saith the Lord;' if, then, thine enemy doth hunger, feed him; if he doth thirst, give him drink; for this doing, coals of fire thou shalt heap upon his head;

World English Bible

Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

Darby Translation

If therefore thine enemy should hunger, feed him; if he should thirst, give him drink; for, so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.

Douay-Rheims

But if thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat; if he thirst, give him to drink. For, doing this, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.

Quotes

Proverbs 25:21 Proverbs 25:21 · King James VersionIf thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:Proverbs 25:21 · King James VersionOpen the Source
for it is written
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
Proverbs 25:22 Proverbs 25:22 · King James VersionFor thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.Proverbs 25:22 · King James VersionOpen the Source
for it is written
For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.