SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:17
No pagando a nadie mal por mal; procurando lo bueno no slo delante de Dios, mas aun delante de todos los hombres.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 12:17
Verse 17. Recompense, &c.] Do not take notice of every little injury you may sustain. Do not be litigious. Beware of too nice a sense of your own honour; intolerable pride is at the bottom of this. The motto of the royal arms of Scotland is in direct opposition to this Divine direction-Nemo me impune lacesset, of which "I render evil for evil to every man," is a pretty literal translation. This is both antichristian and abominable, whether in a state or in an individual. Provide things honest] Be prudent, be cautious, neither eat, drink, nor wear, but as you pay for every thing. "Live not on trust, for that is the way to pay double;" and by this means the poor are still kept poor. He who takes credit, even for food or raiment, when he has no probable means of defraying the debt, is a dishonest man. It is no sin to die through lack of the necessaries of life when the providence of God has denied the means of support; but it is a sin to take up goods without the probability of being able to pay for them. Poor man! suffer poverty a little; perhaps God is only trying thee for a time; and who can tell if he will not turn again thy captivity. Labour hard to live honestly; if God still appear to withhold his providential blessing, do not despair; leave it all to him; do not make a sinful choice; he cannot err. He will bless thy poverty, while he curses the ungodly man's blessings.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Recompence to no man evil for evil , etc..] Neither evil words for evil words, railing for railing; nor evil deeds for evil deeds, one ill turn for another; nor the evil of punishment for the evil of fault, unless it be by persons, who under God have an authority to inflict it; as the civil magistrate, who is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil, ( Romans 13:4); but private revenge is what is here forbidden: providing things honest in the sight of all men . The Vulgate Latin reads, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men; and the Alexandrian copy reads, in the sight of God and in the sight of men, which clause seems to have crept in here, out of ( 2 Corinthians 8:21).
The words are not to be understood of a man's providing things honest, decent, and commendable, as suitable food and raiment for his family, in the sight of all men, to the honour of religion, and the credit of his profession, which is right to be done; but of a provident, thoughtful, and studious concern, to do everything that is laudable and of good report among men. The Syriac version renders the words alter this manner, atbj wdb[td wkl ljbtn ala , but be careful to do well, or exercise beneficence before all men; either restraining it to acts of beneficence, even to them that do us ill, in opposition to rendering evil to them; or applying it to all offices of humanity, and every good work, which are to be done in the sight of men; not merely to be seen of them, and in a vainglorious way, in order to obtain their esteem and applause, as did the Pharisees; but to avoid offence; to put, to silence, by well doing, the ignorance of wicked men; and to shame them that falsely accuse the good conversation of the saints; and to recommend the Gospel and true religion, and win men over to it thereby, and give an occasion to them of glorifying God.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-21 - Since men became enemies to God, they have been very ready to be enemies one to another. And those that embrace religion, must expect to meet with enemies in a world whose smiles seldom agree with Christ's Recompense to no man evil for evil. That is a brutish recompence befitting only animals, which are not conscious of any being abov them, or of any existence hereafter. And not only do, but study an take care to do, that which is amiable and creditable, and recommend religion to all with whom you converse. Study the things that make for peace; if it be possible, without offending God and woundin conscience. Avenge not yourselves. This is a hard lesson to corrup nature, therefore a remedy against it is added. Give place unto wrath When a man's passion is up, and the stream is strong, let it pass off lest it be made to rage the more against us. The line of our duty i clearly marked out, and if our enemies are not melted by perseverin kindness, we are not to seek vengeance; they will be consumed by the fiery wrath of that God to whom vengeance belongeth. The last vers suggests what is not easily understood by the world; that in all strif and contention, those that revenge are conquered, and those tha forgive are conquerors. Be not overcome of evil. Learn to defeat il designs against you, either to change them, or to preserve your ow peace. He that has this rule over his spirit, is better than the mighty. God's children may be asked whether it is not more sweet unt them than all earthly good, that God so enables them by his Spirit thus to feel and act __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
μηδενι 3367 A-DSM κακον 2556 A-ASN αντι 473 PREP κακου 2556 A-GSN αποδιδοντες 591 5723 V-PAP-NPM προνοουμενοι 4306 5734 V-PMP-NPM καλα 2570 A-APN ενωπιον 1799 ADV παντων 3956 A-GPM ανθρωπων 444 N-GPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
17. Provide (pronooumenoi). The A.V. uses provide in its earlier and more literal meaning of taking thought in advance. This has been mostly merged in the later meaning of furnish, so that the translation conveys the sense of providing honestly for ourselves and our families. Better, as Rev., take thought for. 66 The citation is from Prov. iii. 4, and varies from both Hebrew and Septuagint. Hebrew: And thou shalt find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and man. Septuagint: And thou shalt find favor and devise excellent things in the sight of the Lord and of men. Compare 2 Cor. viii. 21. Construe in the sight of all men with the verb, not with honorable. Men's estimate of what is honorable is not the standard.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
12:17 {Render to no man} (mdeni apodidontes). "Giving back to no man." Independent participle again. {Evil for evil} (kakon anti kakou). Directly opposite to the law of retaliation of the Pharisees as in #Mt 5:39; 1Th 5:15; 1Co 13:5f. {Take thought of} (pronooumenoi). "Taking thought beforehand." Old word. See #2Co 8:21.
