Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
Parallel translations
- WEB Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.
- KJV Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
- NKJV Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
- NASB Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
- NLT Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Bless those who persecute you; do not curse them.
Overview
Echoing Jesus' teaching (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28), Paul calls believers to respond to persecution with blessing rather than cursing. This radical, Christlike love refuses retaliation and seeks the good even of enemies. It introduces the theme of overcoming evil with good that runs through the rest of the chapter.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Pet 3:9Do 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.
- Matt 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
- 1 Th 5:15Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
- 1 Cor 4:12–13We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
- Rom 12:21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Luke 6:28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
- Jas 3:10Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!
- Luke 23:34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
- 1 Pet 2:21–23For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
- Acts 7:60Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- Job 31:29–30If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 12:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.