For we knowHim who said,"VENGEANCEIS MINE,I WILL REPAY."And again,"THE LORDWILL JUDGEHIS PEOPLE."
For the LORDwill judgeHis peopleAnd will havecompassionon His servants.
He summonsthe heavensabove,And the earth,to judgeHis people:
O LORD,Godof vengeance,Godof vengeance,shineforth!
Beforethe LORD,for He is coming,For He is comingto judgethe earth.He will judgethe worldin righteousnessAnd the peoplesin His faithfulness.
Beforethe LORD,for He is comingto judgethe earth;He will judgethe worldwith righteousnessAnd the peopleswith equity.
He puton righteousnesslike a breastplate,And a helmetof salvationon His head;And He puton garmentsof vengeancefor clothingAnd wrappedHimself with zealas a mantle.
To proclaimthe favorableyearof the LORDAnd the dayof vengeanceof our God;To comfortallwho mourn,
"For the dayof vengeancewas in My heart,And My yearof redemptionhas come.
"ThereforeI will judgeyou, O houseof Israel,eachaccording to his conduct,"declaresthe LordGOD."Repentand turnawayfrom allyour transgressions,so that iniquitymay not becomea stumblingblockto you.
"As for you, My flock,thussaysthe LordGOD,'Behold,I will judgebetweenone sheepand another,between the ramsand the malegoats.
You shall not takevengeance,norbearany grudgeagainstthe sonsof your people,but you shall loveyour neighboras yourself; I am the LORD.
A jealousand avengingGodis the LORD;The LORDis avengingand wrathful.The LORDtakesvengeanceon His adversaries,And He reserveswrathfor His enemies.
Nevertakeyour ownrevenge,beloved,but leaveroomfor the wrath[of God], for it is written,"VENGEANCEIS MINE,I WILL REPAY,"saysthe Lord.
for it is a ministerof Godto you for good.But ifyou dowhatis evil,be afraid;for it does not bearthe swordfor nothing;for it is a ministerof God,an avengerwho brings wrathon the one who practicesevil.
For we mustallappearbeforethe judgment seatof Christ,sothat each onemay be recompensedfor his deeds in the body,accordingto whathe has done,whethergoodorbad.
"Nowtherefore, my lord,as the LORDlives,and as your soullives,sincethe LORDhas restrainedyou from sheddingblood,and from avengingyourself by your own hand,nowthen let your enemiesand those who seekevilagainstmy lord,be as Nabal.
Davidalso said,"As the LORDlives,surelythe LORDwill strikehim, orhis daywill comethat he dies,orhe will godowninto battleand perish.
