complete verse (Romans 12:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 12:17:

  • Uma: “If there are those who persecute us, don’t pay them back. Do what is good in the sight of all people.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “If someone does evil/bad to you don’t repay (him) with evil/bad. Do everything which is good in the sight of all people.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If someone harms you, do not revenge. You just continue doing those actions that nobody can rebuke you for.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “If someone does evil to you, don’t take-revenge, but rather try to do what is good and right in the estimation of all people.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Don’t repay the evil which is done to you. Earnestly endeavor that concerning what is good, that is what you will do.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Romans 12:17

Do not pay him back with evil may be rendered as “do not do evil to him in return” or “do not be bad to him as he has been bad to you.”

The second part of this verse, try to do what all men consider to be good, comes from the Septuagint of Proverbs 3.4.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .