What does the Bible say about getting revenge?

A Vindictive Attitude Hurts

Of course, there are degrees of offense. But most people who want to get back at someone have not been mugged or criminally assaulted. The “offenses” quoted at the beginning of this article were rather insignificant, although they loomed large in the minds of the ones who decided to get even.

The Bible says that we should not cultivate a vengeful attitude. Proverbs 24:29 counsels: “Do not say: ‘Just as he did to me, so I am going to do to him.’” Why not? For one thing, such an attitude is emotionally and physically damaging. Vengeful thoughts take away peace of mind and hinder sound reasoning. Consider this news report: “Two farmers shooting from their pickup trucks killed each other in a parking lot, ending a 40-year feud that began when they were children.” Imagine, throughout their lives the thinking of these two men had been poisoned by a festering, vengeful spirit!—Proverbs 14:29, 30.

Another reason not to cultivate a vengeful spirit is that erring ones—even seriously erring ones—can change. The apostle Paul, for example, at one time ‘approved of the murder’ of the disciple Stephen and ‘breathed threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord.’ But he changed. Years later the apostle Peter—whose life had been in danger from Paul during that earlier time—called him “our beloved brother Paul.” (Acts 8:1; 9:1; 2 Peter 3:15) Christians could have tried to take revenge on Paul, especially when he was waiting, blind, in Damascus. (Acts 9:3-15) What a tragic mistake that would have been!

Paul could well counsel, therefore, at Romans 12:20: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” Why? Because if we avenge ourselves on an enemy, we harden his attitude and cement the enmity between us. But if we do good to one who offends or hurts us, we may soften his attitude and make a former enemy into a friend.

Recognizing our own weaknesses also helps in overcoming the bitterness that leads to a desire for revenge. The psalmist asked: “If errors were what you watch, O Jah, O Jehovah, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3) All of us have hurt or offended others. Were we not glad if they did not try to get even? Should we not, then, act with similar restraint? Jesus counseled: “All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them.”—Matthew 7:12.

True, the Bible says: “Hate what is bad.” (Psalm 97:10; Amos 5:15) But it does not tell us to hate the one doing the bad. In fact, Jesus commanded us: “Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you.” (Matthew 5:44) If we repay injury for injury, we copy the spirit of the wrongdoer. The ancient proverb says: “Do not say: ‘I will pay back evil!’ Hope in Jehovah, and he will save you.” (Proverbs 20:22) What a wise attitude! How much better to show ourselves the winners by resisting the temptation to imitate wrongdoers.—John 16:33; Romans 12:17, 21.

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RE:

What does the Bible say about getting revenge?

if you know, can you tell me in which book you found your info?

"Don't take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God's anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, "I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord."

- Romans 12:19

- Deuteronomy 32:35

Here's one scripture, it blew me away the first time I read it.

Romans 12:19

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

And if you ever are tempted to get revenge, just remember to stay calm, not repay evil with evil (Romans 12:17), and let God handle it. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:11,12-

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

If you leave it to God and not take revenge your self, you have succeeded in that trial of faith and you will be rewarded with something very special (James 1:12)! Oh, and one more thing, hate the sin and not the sinner. Love everyone despite everything they have done and do unto others as you would have do unto you.

EDIT: In Matthew 5:44-45 Jesus says-

(NIV) "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"

(KJV) "But 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;"

Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord.

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I believe that we as sinners have no right for revenge; for every crime that we try to find justice in, many others can equally find justice in how we wronged them.

Jesus says to turn the other cheek, give the coat when they ask for the cloak, go two miles when we're asked to go one.

God is the only one who can judge us because he is all righteous.

By taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing over it, he is superior.

Romans 12. And about revenge? Don't.

It's a dish best served cold.

Depends on weather you want the old testament view or the new. OT is an eye for and eye a tooth for a tooth. NT is turn the other cheek.

It's ok if the person is gay or a non-Christian. Just find a random verse of bible and use that to justify it. That's what Christians do, right?

Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.