ROM 12:21 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

UST In other words, do not let what is evil defeat you by causing you to do what is evil. Rather, defeat what is evil by doing what is good.

AICNT Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

OEB Never be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

WEBBE Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

LSV Do not be overcome by the evil, but overcome, in the good, the evil.

FBV Don't be defeated by evil—conquer evil with good.

TCNT Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

T4T Do not let evil things that others have done to you overcome you (sg) by making you do evil things to them! [PRS] Instead, overcome the evil things that they have done by doing good deeds to them!

LEB Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

BBE Do not let evil overcome you, but overcome evil by good.

Moff Do not let evil get the better of you; get the better of evil by doing good.

Wymth Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome the evil with goodness.
¶ 

ASV Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

DRA Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.

YLT Be not overcome by the evil, but overcome, in the good, the evil.

Drby Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

RV Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

SLT Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Wbstr Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

KJB-1769 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

KJB-1611 Be not ouercome of euill, but ouercome euill with good.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps Be not ouercome of euyll, but ouercome euyll with good.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Gnva Bee not ouercome of euill, but ouercome euill with goodnesse.
(Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with goodness. )

Cvdl Be not ouercome with euell, but ouercome thou euell with good.
(Be not overcome with evil, but overcome thou/you evil with good.)

TNT Be not overcome of evyll: But overcome evyll with goodnes.
(Be not overcome of evil: But overcome evil with goodness. )

Wycl Nyle thou be ouercomun of yuel, but ouercome thou yuel bi good.
(Not/Don’t thou/you be overcomun of evil, but overcome thou/you evil by good.)

Luth Laß dich nicht das Böse überwinden, sondern überwinde das Böse mit Gutem.
(Let you/yourself not the evil/evil_person abovewinden, rather abovewinde the evil/evil_person with goodness.)

ClVg Noli vinci a malo, sed vince in bono malum.
(Don't to_be_defeated from I_prefer, but vince in/into/on good evil. )

UGNT μὴ νικῶ ὑπὸ τοῦ κακοῦ, ἀλλὰ νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τὸ κακόν.
(maʸ nikō hupo tou kakou, alla nika en tōi agathōi to kakon.)

SBL-GNT μὴ νικῶ ὑπὸ τοῦ κακοῦ, ἀλλὰ νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τὸ κακόν.
(maʸ nikō hupo tou kakou, alla nika en tōi agathōi to kakon.)

RP-GNT Μὴ νικῶ ὑπὸ τοῦ κακοῦ, ἀλλὰ νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τὸ κακόν.
(Maʸ nikō hupo tou kakou, alla nika en tōi agathōi to kakon.)

TC-GNT Μὴ νικῶ ὑπὸ τοῦ κακοῦ, ἀλλὰ νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τὸ κακόν.
(Maʸ nikō hupo tou kakou, alla nika en tōi agathōi to kakon. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:1–21: Paul taught about our body, love, and revenge

In this section, Paul taught that believers should use their bodies in ways that are holy and acceptable to God. Our thinking must change so that it follows the will of God and not the thinking of the people of this world.

Paul also taught that believers should not be more proud of themselves than what is right before God. We all have different gifts from the Holy Spirit, and we should use them.

Believers should love in a genuine way, avoid evil deeds, honor others, be full of eagerness to serve the Lord. They should rejoice, be patient, pray, help others, and show hospitality.

Believers should bless the people who persecute them, and live in sympathy and harmony with other believers. They are not to be proud such that they avoid people with no status in society. They are not to think of themselves as wise.

Believers are not to take revenge, but leave that for God to do something about the evil done to them. They are to do things that are honorable and live at peace with others, if they can. They are to bless their enemies by doing good to them.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

The New Life in Christ (NRSV)

Our bodies, thinking, and deeds must be holy and good

12:21a

Do not be overcome by evil,

Evil must not be victorious over you^(sing),
When someone does harm to you, do not allow that to defeat you^(plur).

Do not be overcome by evil: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

Evil must not overcome you

Do not let evil defeat you (GNT)

overcome: This word refers to winning a fight or contest. Here it indicates that evil could become the ruler over our deeds and words, and so we do and say evil things. Here are other ways to translate this word:

conquered (NABRE)

gain victory

evil: The Greek word here refers to harm that someone has done to you. See how you translated this word at 12:17.

12:21b

but overcome evil with good.

but/and you^(sing) must be victorious over evil by doing and saying good things.
Do^(plur) good deeds and say good things, and in that way you will overcome the harm done to you.

but: Some languages will not see “overcome evil with good” as contrasting with “do not be overcome by evil.” For example, the Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation omits this word.

overcome evil with good: The believer is to do and say good things. That defeats the evil that tries to rule his life.

evil: The Greek word here refers to harm that someone has done to you, as in 12:21a.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

μὴ νικῶ ὑπὸ τοῦ κακοῦ, ἀλλὰ νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τὸ κακόν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή νικῶ ὑπό τοῦ κακοῦ ἀλλά νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τό κακόν)

Paul describes evil as if it were a person who could conquer someone or be conquered by someone. He is referring to someone doing evil in response to someone doing evil to that person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Do not let evil cause you to do evil, but use good to prevent evil from influencing you]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τοῦ κακοῦ & τῷ ἀγαθῷ & τὸ κακόν

¬the evil & ¬the good & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή νικῶ ὑπό τοῦ κακοῦ ἀλλά νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τό κακόν)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of evil and good, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [evil things … evil things … good things]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

μὴ νικῶ ὑπὸ τοῦ κακοῦ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή νικῶ ὑπό τοῦ κακοῦ ἀλλά νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τό κακόν)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [Do not let evil overcome you]

Parallel ROM 12:21

Section 12:1–21: Paul taught about our body, love, and revenge

12:21a

12:21b