Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Parallel translations
- WEB Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.
- BSB Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
- 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 3:9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
- Matt 5:44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
- 1 Th 5:15See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
- 1 Cor 4:12–13And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
- Rom 12:21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Luke 6:28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
- Jas 3:10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
- Luke 23:34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
- 1 Pet 2:21–23For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
- Acts 7:60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- Job 31:29–30If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found 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.