Deuteronomy 32 · a question people ask
"Vengeance is mine" (32:35) sounds harsh. What does the New Testament do with it?
In the song the LORD says, "Vengeance is mine, and recompense, at the time when their foot slides" (32:35), and the next verse goes on, "For the LORD will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants" (32:36). The New Testament quotes it twice. Paul uses it to tell believers not to take revenge themselves: "Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath" (Romans 12:19), for it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord" (Romans 12:19), and goes straight on, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him" (Romans 12:20), and "Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). Hebrews uses it as a warning, with 32:36 beside it: "Vengeance belongs to me. I will repay" and "The Lord will judge his people" (Hebrews 10:30), then, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). In both places vengeance belongs to God. The WEB of Romans and Hebrews reads "Vengeance belongs to me" where Deuteronomy reads "Vengeance is mine".
The verses
“Vengeance is mine, and recompense, at the time when their foot slides, for the day of their calamity is at hand. Their doom rushes at them.” For the LORD will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone, that there is no one remaining, shut up or left at large.”
“Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
“For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will repay,” says the Lord. Again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”