Proverbs 17:13
New International Version
Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good.

New Living Translation
If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.

English Standard Version
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.

Berean Standard Bible
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.

King James Bible
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

New King James Version
Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

New American Standard Bible
One who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

NASB 1995
He who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

NASB 1977
He who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

Legacy Standard Bible
He who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

Amplified Bible
Whoever returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

Christian Standard Bible
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never depart from his house.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never depart from his house.

American Standard Version
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.

Contemporary English Version
You will always have trouble if you are mean to those who are good to you.

English Revised Version
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever pays back evil for good- evil will never leave his home.

Good News Translation
If you repay good with evil, you will never get evil out of your house.

International Standard Version
The person who repays good with evil will never see evil leave his home.

Majority Standard Bible
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.

NET Bible
As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house.

New Heart English Bible
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whoever rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

World English Bible
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Whoever is returning evil for good, "" Evil does not move from his house.

Young's Literal Translation
Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.

Smith's Literal Translation
He turning back evil, instead of good, evil shall not move from his house.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.

New American Bible
If you return evil for good, evil will not depart from your house.

New Revised Standard Version
Evil will not depart from the house of one who returns evil for good.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He who rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Evil will not depart from the house of him that pays evil for good.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not be removed from his house.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness
12It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. 13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house. 14To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.…

Cross References
Romans 12:17
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.

1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Luke 6:27-28
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.

1 Samuel 24:17
and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.

1 Samuel 25:21-22
Now David had just said, “In vain I have protected all that belonged to this man in the wilderness. Nothing that belongs to him has gone missing, yet he has paid me back evil for good. / May God punish David, and ever so severely, if I let one male belonging to Nabal survive until morning.”

Genesis 44:4-5
They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, “Pursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil? / Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’”

Exodus 23:4-5
If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him. / If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; you must help him with it.

2 Samuel 16:12
Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”

2 Kings 6:22
“Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.”

Psalm 7:4
if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,

Psalm 35:12
They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.

Psalm 109:5
They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

Jeremiah 18:20
Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You to speak good on their behalf, to turn Your wrath from them.


Treasury of Scripture

Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

1 Samuel 24:17
And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

1 Samuel 31:2,3
And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons…

2 Samuel 21:1
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

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Proverbs 17
1. Contrasts between the Righteous and the Wicked














If anyone returns evil for good
This phrase highlights a moral principle deeply rooted in biblical teaching: the expectation of reciprocating good with good. The act of returning evil for good is seen as a grave injustice and a violation of the natural order established by God. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, hospitality and kindness were highly valued, and repaying good with evil would have been considered a serious breach of social and divine law. This principle is echoed in other scriptures, such as Romans 12:21, which advises believers to overcome evil with good. The idea is that such behavior disrupts the harmony intended by God and reflects a heart that is not aligned with His righteousness.

evil will never leave his house
The consequence of repaying evil for good is severe and enduring. The term "house" can be understood both literally and metaphorically, referring to one's family or household. In biblical times, the family unit was central to one's identity and legacy. The promise that evil will never leave such a house suggests a generational impact, where the consequences of one's actions affect not only the individual but also their descendants. This aligns with the biblical principle of sowing and reaping, as seen in Galatians 6:7-8, where actions have lasting repercussions. Theologically, this can be seen as a form of divine justice, where God allows the natural consequences of sin to unfold. It serves as a warning to maintain integrity and righteousness, reflecting the character of God, who is just and merciful.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
Traditionally considered the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His proverbs often provide practical guidance for righteous living.

2. Ancient Israel
The cultural and historical context of Proverbs is ancient Israel, where wisdom literature was a key component of teaching and moral instruction.

3. The House
In this context, "house" refers not just to a physical dwelling but to one's family or household, indicating the broader impact of one's actions on their family and legacy.
Teaching Points
The Principle of Reciprocity
The verse highlights a fundamental biblical principle: actions have consequences. Returning evil for good disrupts the moral order and invites ongoing trouble into one's life.

Impact on the Household
Our actions affect not only ourselves but also our families. By choosing to repay good with evil, we risk bringing harm and discord into our homes.

Cultivating a Heart of Gratitude
Instead of responding to good with evil, cultivate gratitude and appreciation. Recognize and honor the good done to you by others.

The Call to Righteousness
As followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard of living, one that reflects God's righteousness and love, even in the face of wrongdoing.

The Importance of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a powerful antidote to the cycle of evil. By forgiving and choosing to do good, we break the chain of negativity and reflect God's grace.Verse 13. - Whoso rewardeth evil for good. This was David's complaint of the churlish Nabal (1 Samuel 25:21). Ingratitude shall surely he punished. Evil shall not depart from his house. Terribly has the ingratitude of the Jews been visited. They cried in their madness, "His blood be on us and on our children!" and their punishment is still going on. Injunctions on this subject are frequent in the New Testament (see Matthew 5:39; Romans 12:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 3:9). The Talmud says, "Do not throw a stone into the well whose waters you have drunk." The Greeks felt the sting of ingratitude. Thus Leiodes complains to Ulysses ('Od.,' 22:319) -

Ὡς οὐκ ἔστι χάρις μετόπισθ εὐεργέων Two sayings of Publius Syrus are quoted ('Sent.,' vv. 219, 274): "Ingratus unus omnibus miseris nocet;" "Malignos fieri maxime ingrati docent."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If anyone returns
מֵשִׁ֣יב (mê·šîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

evil
רָ֭עָה (rā·‘āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

for
תַּ֣חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

good,
טוֹבָ֑ה (ṭō·w·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

evil
רָ֝עָ֗ה (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

will never
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

leave
תָמ֥וּשׁ (ṯā·mūš)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 4185: To depart, remove

his house.
מִבֵּיתֽוֹ׃ (mib·bê·ṯōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 17:13 Whoever rewards evil for good evil shall (Prov. Pro Pr)
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