◄ Proverbs 24:29 ►
Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work."
Study Bible
Do not say
This phrase serves as a direct command, urging restraint in speech and thought. In the Hebrew text, the word "say" (אָמַר, 'amar) often implies not just verbal expression but also internal contemplation. The Bible frequently emphasizes the power of words and thoughts, as seen in James 3:5-6, where the tongue is described as a small part of the body that can cause great harm. This command reflects a call to self-control and wisdom, aligning with the broader biblical principle of guarding one's heart and mind.

I will do to him
This phrase reflects a natural human inclination towards retaliation. The Hebrew culture, like many ancient societies, was familiar with the concept of lex talionis, or the law of retaliation, which is famously encapsulated in the "eye for an eye" principle found in Exodus 21:24. However, this proverb challenges that instinct, urging believers to rise above mere retribution. The New Testament echoes this sentiment in Romans 12:17-19, where Paul instructs believers not to repay evil for evil.

as he has done to me
Here, the focus is on personal justice or revenge. The phrase suggests a mirroring of actions, a tit-for-tat response that is common in human interactions. However, the biblical narrative consistently calls for a higher standard of behavior, one that reflects God's grace and mercy. Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:38-42) further expand on this idea, encouraging believers to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile.

I will repay the man
The concept of repayment or recompense is central to this phrase. In Hebrew, the word for "repay" (שָׁלַם, shalam) can also mean to make peace or to be complete. This dual meaning suggests that true peace and completeness are not found in personal vengeance but in leaving justice to God. The Bible consistently teaches that God is the ultimate judge and avenger, as seen in Deuteronomy 32:35, where God declares, "Vengeance is Mine, and recompense."

according to his work
This phrase implies a judgment based on actions. In the biblical context, works are often seen as the fruit of one's character and faith. However, the call here is not to judge others by their actions but to trust in God's righteous judgment. The New Testament reinforces this in passages like 2 Corinthians 5:10, which speaks of all appearing before the judgment seat of Christ to receive what is due for things done in the body.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Speaker
The individual being addressed in this proverb, who is tempted to seek revenge.

2. The Neighbor
The person who has wronged the speaker, prompting thoughts of retaliation.

3. Solomon
Traditionally considered the author of Proverbs, offering wisdom and guidance.

4. Ancient Israel
The cultural and historical context in which these proverbs were written, emphasizing community and justice.

5. The Act of Retaliation
The event or action being discouraged in this verse, highlighting the human tendency towards revenge.
Teaching Points
Rejecting Retaliation
As Christians, we are called to resist the natural urge to repay wrongs with wrongs. This reflects the character of Christ, who forgave even those who crucified Him.

Trusting God's Justice
Believers are encouraged to trust in God's perfect justice rather than taking matters into their own hands. God sees all and will judge righteously.

Promoting Peace
By choosing not to retaliate, we promote peace and reconciliation, which are central to Christian living and witness.

Reflecting Christ's Love
Our response to wrongdoing should reflect the love and forgiveness of Christ, serving as a testimony to others.

Cultivating a Heart of Forgiveness
Practicing forgiveness helps us to grow spiritually and maintain healthy relationships, freeing us from the burden of bitterness.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Proverbs 24:29 challenge our natural inclinations when we are wronged by others?

2. In what ways can trusting in God's justice help us to refrain from seeking revenge?

3. How do the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament reinforce the message of Proverbs 24:29?

4. What practical steps can we take to cultivate a heart of forgiveness in our daily lives?

5. How can choosing not to retaliate serve as a witness to others about the transformative power of the Gospel?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 5:38-39
Jesus teaches about turning the other cheek, which aligns with the principle of not repaying evil for evil.

Romans 12:17-21
Paul advises believers to leave vengeance to God and to overcome evil with good, echoing the wisdom of Proverbs.

Leviticus 19:18
The Old Testament law instructs not to seek revenge but to love your neighbor, providing a foundation for this proverb.

1 Peter 3:9
Peter encourages believers not to repay evil with evil, reinforcing the message of Proverbs 24:29.

James 1:20
James speaks about human anger not producing the righteousness that God desires, relevant to the theme of retaliation.
Sermons
The Ignobler and the Nobler SpiritE. Johnson Proverbs 24:17, 18, 29
Just Conduct to Our NeighbourE. Johnson Proverbs 24:26-29
Retaliation RepudiatedProverbs 24:28-29
Revenging InjuriesGeorge Wallis, D.D.Proverbs 24:28-29
The Nature and Extent of False WitnessS. Clarke, D.D.Proverbs 24:28-29
Wrong Testimony Against NeighboursHomilistProverbs 24:28-29
People
Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
I'll, Pay, Render, Reward, Thus
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 24:29

     5493   retribution
     5495   revenge, and retaliation
     8828   spite

Library
The Sluggard's Garden
'I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31. And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.'--PROVERBS xxiv. 30, 31. This picture of the sluggard's garden seems to be intended as a parable. No doubt its direct simple meaning is full of homely wisdom in full accord with the whole tone of the Book of Proverbs; but we shall scarcely do justice to this saying of the wise …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Broken Fence
A sermon (No. 3381) published on Thursday, November 20th 1913. Delivered by C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. "I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and to, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down, Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it and received instruction."--Proverbs 24:30-32. This slothful man did no hurt to his fellow-men: …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Sluggard's Farm
A sermon (No. 2027) intended for reading on Lord's Day, June 3rd 1888, delivered by C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. "I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction."--Proverbs 24:30-32. No doubt Solomon was sometimes glad …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

Epistle xxxvi. To Maximus, Bishop of Salona .
To Maximus, Bishop of Salona [113] . Gregory to Maximus, &c. When our common son the presbyter Veteranus came to the Roman city, he found me so weak from the pains of gout as to be quite unable to answer thy Fraternity's letters myself. And indeed with regard to the nation of the Sclaves [114] , from which you are in great danger, I am exceedingly afflicted and disturbed. I am afflicted as suffering already in your suffering: I am disturbed, because they have already begun to enter Italy by way …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Portrait of a Drunkyard
'Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30. They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 34. Yea, thou shalt be as …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

2 Cor. Iii. 5
Not that we are sufficient of our selves, to think any thing as of our selves: but our Sufficiency is of God. IN my former Discourse upon these Words, I shewed you that it was the sole Design of St. Paul in them, to declare, that, in the setting about, and executing, the difficult and laborious Work of an Apostle, He did not arrogate to himself the Power, and Ability, and Success, which he had: but that he ascribed his Sufficiency for this great Work, as well as his being designed to it, to God himself, …
Benjamin Hoadly—Several Discourses Concerning the Terms of Acceptance with God

How to Make Use of Christ for Taking the Guilt of Our Daily Out-Breakings Away.
The next part of our sanctification is in reference to our daily failings and transgressions, committed partly through the violence of temptations, as we see in David and Peter, and other eminent men of God; partly through daily infirmities, because of our weakness and imperfections; for, "in many things we offend all," James iii. 2; and, "if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us," 1 John i. 8; "a righteous man falleth seven times," Prov. xxiv. 16; "there is not …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

The Justice of God
The next attribute is God's justice. All God's attributes are identical, and are the same with his essence. Though he has several attributes whereby he is made known to us, yet he has but one essence. A cedar tree may have several branches, yet it is but one cedar. So there are several attributes of God whereby we conceive of him, but only one entire essence. Well, then, concerning God's justice. Deut 32:4. Just and right is he.' Job 37:23. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Necessity of Actual Grace
In treating of the necessity of actual grace we must avoid two extremes. The first is that mere nature is absolutely incapable of doing any thing good. This error was held by the early Protestants and the followers of Baius and Jansenius. The second is that nature is able to perform supernatural acts by its own power. This was taught by the Pelagians and Semipelagians. Between these two extremes Catholic theology keeps the golden mean. It defends the capacity of human nature against Protestants and …
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Meditations on the Hindrances which Keep Back a Sinner from the Practice of Piety.
Those hindrances are chiefly seven:-- I. An ignorant mistaking of the true meaning of certain places of the holy Scriptures, and some other chief grounds of Christian religion. The Scriptures mistaken are these: 1. Ezek. xxxiii. 14, 16, "At what time soever a sinner repenteth him of his sin, I will blot out all," &c. Hence the carnal Christian gathers, that he may repent when he will. It is true, whensoever a sinner does repent, God will forgive; but the text saith not, that a sinner may repent whensoever …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and Ungodly Men.
Scriptures Showing The Sin And Danger Of Joining With Wicked And Ungodly Men. When the Lord is punishing such a people against whom he hath a controversy, and a notable controversy, every one that is found shall be thrust through: and every one joined with them shall fall, Isa. xiii. 15. They partake in their judgment, not only because in a common calamity all shares, (as in Ezek. xxi. 3.) but chiefly because joined with and partakers with these whom God is pursuing; even as the strangers that join …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

A Treatise on Good Works
I. We ought first to know that there are no good works except those which God has commanded, even as there is no sin except that which God has forbidden. Therefore whoever wishes to know and to do good works needs nothing else than to know God's commandments. Thus Christ says, Matthew xix, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." And when the young man asks Him, Matthew xix, what he shall do that he may inherit eternal life, Christ sets before him naught else but the Ten Commandments. …
Dr. Martin Luther—A Treatise on Good Works

Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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