Proverbs 20:22

Do not say, ¹  “I will pay back ²  evil!” Wait ³  for the Lord, so that he may vindicate you. ⁴ 

Do not say, "I’ll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

Do not say, "I will repay evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

Don’t say, "I will get even for this wrong." Wait for the LORD to handle the matter.

Don't ever say, "I'll get you for that!" Wait for GOD; he'll settle the score.

Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.

Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the LORD, and he will help you.

Do not say, "I will recompense evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

Do not say, ¹  “I will pay back ²  evil!” Wait ³  for the Lord, so that he may vindicate you. ⁴ 

¹ tn The verse is directly instructive; it begins with the negated jussive in the first colon, and follows with the imperative in the second. It warns that the righteous should not take vengeance on the wicked, for only God can do that.

² tn The form is the Piel cohortative of resolve – “I am determined to pay back.” The verb שָׁלֵם (shalem) means “to be complete; to be sound.” In this stem, however, it can mean “to make complete; to make good; to requite; to recompense” (KJV, ASV). The idea is “getting even” by paying back someone for the evil done.

³ sn To “wait” (קַוֵּה, qavveh) on the Lord requires faith in him, reliance on divine justice, and patience. It means that the wrongs done to a person will have to be endured for a time.

⁴ tn After the imperative, the jussive is subordinated in a purpose or result clause: “wait for the Lord so that he may deliver you.” The verb יֹשַׁע (yosha’) means “to save (KJV, ASV, NASB); to deliver (NIV); to give victory”; in this context it means “deliver from the evil done to you,” and so “vindicate” is an appropriate connotation. Cf. NCV “he will make things right.”