Romans 12:19 (YLT)

Passage

not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, `Vengeance <FI>is<Fi> Mine,

Nearby Context

Romans 12:17 giving back to no one evil for evil; providing right things before all men.

Romans 12:18 If possible--so far as in you--with all men being in peace;

Romans 12:19 not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, `Vengeance <FI>is<Fi> Mine,

Romans 12:20 I will recompense again, saith the Lord;' if, then, thine enemy doth hunger, feed him; if he doth thirst, give him drink; for this doing, coals of fire thou shalt heap upon his head;

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome by the evil, but overcome, in the good, the evil.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "avenging", "yourselves", "beloved", "give", "place", "wrath", "hath", and "been". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "avenging" and "yourselves", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "If possible--so far as in you--with all..." into verse 20's "I will recompense again saith the Lord...", so "avenging" and "yourselves" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "avenging" and "yourselves" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.