At our congregation we are working through Proverbs in our midweek prayer meetings. I’ve been aware for some time that the the famous “If your enemy in hungry, feed him” in the middle of Romans 12 is a direct quote from Proverbs 25:21. But I started to notice more and more passages that seem to be evocative of Romans 12 & 13 (or vice versa).

Did Paul take the very this-worldly Proverbs and arranged them into a punchy medley about the radical love of Jesus and Christians being a living sacrifice? It almost seems like he might!

Below I list Proverbs match to Romans 12/13. I asterisk those passages that don’t seem to have a close Proverbs passage. But, if I missed one, please let me know. Brackets enclose my commentary. Enjoy.

Romans 12:9 Pr 8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. Pr 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil… {But maybe Paul was thinking of Amos?} Am 5:15 Hate the evil, and love the good…

Romans 12:10 *

Romans 12:11 Pr 22:29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand {serve?} before kings {King of Kings? Clever Paul!}…

Romans 12:12 Pr 10:28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness…

Romans 12:13 Pr 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

Romans 12:14 Pr 24:29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me…

*15 Ecc 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; or…Pr 24:17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth;

Romans 12:16 Pr 16:19 ¶ Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly… Pr 3:7 ¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes…

Romans 12:17 Pr 24:29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; Pr 20:22 ¶ Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee…

Romans 12:18 Pr 3:30 Strive not with a man without cause…

Romans 12:19 Pr 24:29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work; Pr 20:22 ¶ Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Romans 12:20  Pr 25:21 ¶ If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: Pr 25:22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

*21 Pr 16:32 ¶ He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; Pr 19:11 ¶ The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression

Romans 13:1 Pr 8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. Pr 8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

Romans 13:2 Pr 20:2 ¶ The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.; Pr 16:14 ¶ The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

Romans 13:3 Pr 24:21 ¶ My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: Pr 24:22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? Pr 14:35 ¶ The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

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Romans 13:7 Pr 3:27 ¶ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

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