Romans 12:20

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 25:21-22 : 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
  • Matt 5:44 : 44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you,
  • Luke 6:27 : 27 “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
  • 2 Kgs 6:22 : 22 He replied,“Do not strike them down! You did not capture them with your sword or bow, so what gives you the right to strike them down? Give them some food and water, so they can eat and drink and then go back to their master.”
  • Exod 23:4-5 : 4 “If you encounter your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, you must by all means return it to him. 5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen under its load, you must not ignore him, but be sure to help him with it.
  • Song 8:6-7 : 6 The Nature of True LoveThe Beloved to Her Lover: Set me like a cylinder seal over your heart, like a signet on your arm. For love is as strong as death, passion is as unrelenting as Sheol. Its flames burst forth, it is a blazing flame. 7 Surging waters cannot quench love; floodwaters cannot overflow it. If someone were to offer all his possessions to buy love, the offer would be utterly despised.
  • 1 Sam 24:16-19 : 16 When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said,“Is that your voice, my son David?” Then Saul wept loudly. 17 He said to David,“You are more innocent than I, for you have treated me well, even though I have tried to harm you! 18 You have explained today how you have treated me well. The LORD delivered me into your hand, but you did not kill me. 19 Now if a man finds his enemy, does he send him on his way in good shape? May the LORD repay you with good this day for what you have done to me.
  • 1 Sam 26:21 : 21 Saul replied,“I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won’t harm you anymore, for you treated my life with value this day. I have behaved foolishly and have made a very terrible mistake!”
  • Ps 120:4 : 4 Here’s how! With the sharp arrows of warriors, with arrowheads forged over the hot coals.
  • Ps 140:10 : 10 May he rain down fiery coals upon them! May he throw them into the fire! From bottomless pits they will not escape.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Prov 25:21-22
    2 verses
    88%

    21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

    22for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

  • Rom 12:21
    80%

    21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

  • Rom 12:17-19
    3 verses
    77%

    17Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.

    18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.

    19Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written,“Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

  • Matt 5:42-44
    3 verses
    74%

    42Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you.

    43Love for Enemies“You have heard that it was said,‘Love your neighbor’ and‘hate your enemy.’

    44But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you,

  • Luke 6:27-31
    5 verses
    73%

    27“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

    28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

    29To the person who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well, and from the person who takes away your coat, do not withhold your tunic either.

    30Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your possessions back from the person who takes them away.

    31Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you.

  • Luke 6:35
    72%

    35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people.

  • Ps 140:10
    71%

    10May he rain down fiery coals upon them! May he throw them into the fire! From bottomless pits they will not escape.

  • Rom 12:14
    71%

    14Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse.

  • Matt 5:38-40
    3 verses
    70%

    38Retaliation“You have heard that it was said,‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

    39But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.

    40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your coat also.

  • 1 Pet 3:9
    70%

    9Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.

  • 1 Thess 5:15
    69%

    15See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.

  • Prov 24:17
    69%

    17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles do not let your heart rejoice,

  • 2 Thess 3:15
    69%

    15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

  • Ps 79:12
    69%

    12Pay back our neighbors in full! May they be insulted the same way they insulted you, O Lord!

  • 2 Cor 11:20
    69%

    20For you put up with it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone behaves arrogantly toward you, if someone strikes you in the face.

  • Exod 23:4-5
    2 verses
    68%

    4“If you encounter your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, you must by all means return it to him.

    5If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen under its load, you must not ignore him, but be sure to help him with it.

  • Exod 22:6
    68%

    6“If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, so that stacked grain or standing grain or the whole field is consumed, the one who started the fire must surely make restitution.

  • Prov 24:29
    68%

    29Do not say,“I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will pay him back according to what he has done.”

  • Exod 21:25
    68%

    25burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

  • Ps 55:12
    68%

    12Indeed, it is not an enemy who insults me, or else I could bear it; it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me, or else I could hide from him.

  • Prov 3:30
    68%

    30Do not accuse anyone without legitimate cause, if he has not treated you wrongly.

  • Matt 5:23
    68%

    23So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you,

  • Deut 28:48
    67%

    48instead in hunger, thirst, nakedness, and poverty you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you. They will place an iron yoke on your neck until they have destroyed you.

  • Jer 15:14
    67%

    14I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you know nothing about. For my anger is like a fire that will burn against you.”

  • Prov 17:13
    67%

    13As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house.

  • Prov 10:12
    67%

    12Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

  • Ps 21:9
    67%

    9You burn them up like a fiery furnace when you appear; the LORD angrily devours them; the fire consumes them.

  • Prov 25:17
    67%

    17Don’t set foot too frequently in your neighbor’s house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.

  • Isa 58:10
    67%

    10You must actively help the hungry and feed the oppressed. Then your light will dispel the darkness, and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.

  • Prov 26:21
    67%

    21Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife.

  • Job 20:23
    67%

    23“While he is filling his belly, God sends his burning anger against him, and rains down his blows upon him.

  • Ps 7:4
    66%

    4or have wronged my ally, or helped his lawless enemy,

  • Lam 3:30
    66%

    30Let him offer his cheek to the one who hits him; let him have his fill of insults.

  • Obad 1:15
    66%

    15The Coming Day of the Lord“For the day of the LORD is approaching for all the nations! Just as you have done, so it will be done to you. You will get exactly what your deeds deserve.

  • Jer 18:20
    66%

    20Should good be paid back with evil? Yet they are virtually digging a pit to kill me. Just remember how I stood before you pleading on their behalf to keep you from venting your anger on them.

  • Ezek 24:10
    66%

    10Pile up the wood, kindle the fire; cook the meat well, mix in the spices, let the bones be charred.

  • Luke 12:58
    66%

    58As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he will not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

  • Deut 7:10
    66%

    10but who pays back those who hate him as they deserve and destroys them. He will not ignore those who hate him but will repay them as they deserve!