You know what? I don’t like feeling small. When someone hurts me, my first thought is, “I’ll get them back.” It’s not nice, but it’s honest. The Bible pushed back on that urge. Hard. These verses felt like a stop sign, and also like a gentle hand on my shoulder.
For anyone who wants an even wider snapshot of what Scripture says, you can skim these Bible verses about revenge; they’ve kept me from hitting “send” more than once.
If you want the longer back-story, I unpack it in this full journal entry on Bible verses about revenge.
Before I share the messy bits, here’s what I’ll cover:
- The verses that stuck with me (and why)
- Real times I used them
- What helped, what didn’t
- Simple steps that kept me from blowing up
The Verses That Hit Me Right in the Gut
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Romans 12:19 (KJV): “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
My take: I don’t have to play judge, jury, and, well, the other one too. I can breathe. -
Proverbs 20:22 (KJV): “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord.”
My take: Don’t get even. Wait. Waiting is hard. But it’s safer than rage. -
Matthew 5:38–39 (KJV): “Ye have heard… an eye for an eye… But I say unto you… whosoever shall smite thee… turn to him the other also.”
My take: Not weak. Just strong and calm. Sometimes that calm looks weird. But it works. -
Matthew 5:44 (KJV): “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you…”
My take: Pray for the person who hurt you. Even if the prayer is, “God, help me not snap.” -
1 Peter 3:9 (KJV): “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing.”
My take: Don’t trade insults. Offer peace. Or at least silence. -
Leviticus 19:18 (KJV): “Thou shalt not avenge… but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
My take: Don’t plot. Love is the plan. Boundaries are part of love, too.
Real Life: Four Times I Wanted Payback
1) Work drama: my idea, her credit
Last spring, a teammate shared my design mockups as her own. I felt my face burn. I almost fired off a spicy email. Instead, I wrote down Proverbs 20:22 on a sticky note and stuck it on my monitor. I opened our project docs and added clear notes and timestamps. Then I set a quick, calm chat with my manager. No shade. No jabs. Just facts.
Result? He noticed the pattern over two weeks. He shifted ownership on tasks. She didn’t get fired. I didn’t need her to. I just wanted fairness. Romans 12:19 kept me steady when my fingers wanted to type fire.
What didn’t work: stewing at my desk. That only made me snippy in meetings.
2) A neighbor who talked trash (literally)
Our neighbor told folks our trash cans were blocking the sidewalk. They weren’t. I wanted to post a photo in the group chat. Proof. Boom. Instead, I prayed Matthew 5:44 in my kitchen while the kettle boiled. Then I walked over with banana bread. It felt corny. But we talked. Turns out, the cans had rolled on a windy night. Not mine. A mix-up.
Result? We set a simple plan: bungee cords on storm days. Peace tasted better than being “right.”
What didn’t work: replaying the story in my head like a drama. I only got madder.
3) Internet heat on my post
I shared a short reel on habits. A stranger mocked my voice. I typed a long clap-back. Then I heard 1 Peter 3:9 in my head. I deleted it. I wrote, “Thanks for watching. Hope your week gets easier.” That reply was short and kind.
Result? Two others commented with support. The loud guy went quiet. Not always the case, but that day, it was.
What didn’t work: doom-scrolling the comments at midnight. Sleep helps more than revenge.
4) Sister, sweater, and a stain
My sister borrowed my favorite sweater. It came back with a coffee line down the front. I wanted to snap. Leviticus 19:18 nudged me. I called her. I said, “I love you. I’m upset. Can we fix this?” We laughed a little. She paid for the cleaner and sent me a gift card. I set a simple rule: ask first next time.
Result? We’re fine. And the sweater made it. Boundaries help love breathe.
That same gentle approach showed up later when I searched for Bible verses to share with my daughter during her own meltdowns.
The Hard Parts I Gotta Admit
- Sometimes I felt like a doormat. Turning the other cheek felt like losing.
- Waiting on God felt slow. My anger felt fast.
- Praying for people who hurt me? I rolled my eyes at first. Then I tried it. It softened me, not them. But that was enough.
On days when revenge wasn’t the only mess on my plate, I leaned into passages on grace as well—here’s the candid rundown of how those grace verses held up in real life.
What These Verses Did for Me
- Gave me a pause button.
- Helped me choose firm, calm action over messy revenge.
- Kept me from saying words I’d replay for months.
- Shifted my focus from winning to healing.
If you’re still gathering verse lists for your own “don’t snap” kit, this quick guide of Bible verses on revenge can ride shotgun with the ones I mentioned above and save you a late-night Google spiral.
That doesn’t mean let folks walk all over you. Love has a spine. Sometimes you need to file a report, set a boundary, or call the police. Justice matters. These verses don’t cancel that. They guide your heart while you take wise steps.
My Simple “Don’t Snap” Kit
- Breathe and say one verse out loud. Romans 12:19 is my go-to.
- Write the facts. Feelings too, but label them.
- Choose one calm step: a meeting, a text, or no reply at all.
- Pray for the person for 30 seconds. Yes, really.
- Then move your body. A walk beats a rant.
Bonus tip: Sometimes the best way to snap out of a revenge spiral is to change scenery and meet completely new people. If you’re based in Brittany’s capital and want a zero-pressure way to expand your social circle, check out this Rennes meet-up guide—you’ll find local singles and casual hangouts that can give you a fresh conversation and a healthier distraction than replaying grudges. And if you’re closer to western Pennsylvania, browsing the listings at Bedpage Johnstown can point you toward laid-back community events and local meet-ups that pull your attention away from stewing and toward real-life connections instead.
I also use the YouVersion Bible app and put verses on my phone lock screen. I know, simple. But it helps when my hands shake. Another resource I’ve leaned on is Barnabas, a site packed with bite-sized studies that keep these verses fresh when my motivation dips.
Who This Helps—and When It Doesn’t
- Helps if the hurt is sharp but safe: rude words, credit theft, small lies.
- Doesn’t fix abuse, crime, or danger. Get help. Tell someone. Call the right folks. God’s not asking you to stay in harm.
Final Word From a Hot-Head Who’s Learning
These verses didn’t make me soft. They made me steady. Revenge felt sweet for five minutes and bitter for weeks. Peace felt slow, then deep. And yeah, I still mess up. I still want to clap back. But I’m learning to pause, to pray, and to pick a better path.
If you’re burning right now, pick one verse. Just one. Read it. Breathe. Take one fair step. Let God handle the heavy stuff. I’m trying that too.