Passage

Romans 12.17-19

Book: Romans · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"15. Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep. 16. Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits."

"17. Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. 18. If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. 19. Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord."

"20. But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. 21. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:15-21, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"15. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. 16. Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits."

"17. Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. 18. If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. 19. Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”"

"20. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21. Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:15-21, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"15. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. ^{condescend: or, be contented with mean things}"

"17. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

"20. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:15-21, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"15. to rejoice with the rejoicing, and to weep with the weeping, 16. of the same mind one toward another, not minding the high things, but with the lowly going along; become not wise in your own conceit;"

"17. giving back to no one evil for evil; providing right things before all men. 18. If possible, so far as in you, with all men being in peace; 19. not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, 'Vengeance [is] Mine,"

"20. I will recompense again, saith the Lord;' if, then, thine enemy doth hunger, feed him; if he doth thirst, give him drink; for this doing, coals of fire thou shalt heap upon his head; 21. Be not overcome by the evil, but overcome, in the good, the evil." (Romans 12:15-21, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: Paul the Apostle
Audience: Christian believers in Rome (Jew + Gentile)
Location: composed in Corinth; addressed to Rome
Time period: composed c. AD 57

Theological reading

Key words

G2962 - kyrios, kyrios (Strong's G2962). Also appears in: Matthew 1.20, Matthew 1, Matthew 6.24.
G3956 - pas, pas (Strong's G3956). Also appears in: Matthew 1, Matthew 2.1-6, Matthew 2.16.

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.