What does the Bible say about no good deed will go unpunished?

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

• 1 Peter 2:20-21 10 votes

  [20] For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God. [21] For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,

• John 10:32 7 votes

  Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?"

• Hebrews 6:10 5 votes

  For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.

• Matthew 5:45 4 votes

  that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

• Romans 5:3 3 votes

  Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance;

• John 3:16-17 3 votes

  [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. [17] For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

• Proverbs 11:21 3 votes

  Most assuredly, the evil man will not be unpunished, But the seed of the righteous will be delivered.

• James 1:2-4 2 votes

  [2] Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, [3] knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. [4] Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

• 2 Samuel 10:1-19 2 votes

  [1] It happened after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. [2] David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shown kindness to me. So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. [3] But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Hasn't David sent his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? [4] So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. [5] When they told it to David, he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Wait at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return. [6] When the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men. [7] When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. [8] The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. [9] Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: [10] The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon. [11] He said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you. [12] Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Yahweh do that which seems him good. [13] So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. [14] When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem. [15] When the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered themselves together. [16] Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head. [17] It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him. [18] The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians [the men of] seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their host, so that he died there. [19] When all the kings who were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

• Psalms 37:1-40 2 votes

  [1] > Don't fret because of evil-doers, Neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness. [2] For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither like the green herb. [3] Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture. [4] Also delight yourself in Yahweh, And he will give you the desires of your heart. [5] Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this: [6] He will make your righteousness go forth as the light, And your justice as the noon day sun. [7] Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don't fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. [8] Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don't fret, it leads only to evildoing. [9] For evildoers shall be cut off, But those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land. [10] For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn't there. [11] But the humble shall inherit the land, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. [12] The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. [13] The Lord will laugh at him, For he sees that his day is coming. [14] The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To kill those who are upright in the way. [15] Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken. [16] Better is a little that the righteous has, Than the abundance of many wicked. [17] For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But Yahweh upholds the righteous. [18] Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever. [19] They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied. [20] But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish-- Vanish like smoke. [21] The wicked borrow, and don't pay back, But the righteous give generously. [22] For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off. [23] A man's goings are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way. [24] Though he stumble, he shall not fall, For Yahweh holds him up with his hand. [25] I have been young, and now am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his children begging for bread. [26] All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His seed is blessed. [27] Depart from evil, and do good; Live securely forever. [28] For Yahweh loves justice, And doesn't forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, But the children of the wicked shall be cut off. [29] The righteous shall inherit the land, And live in it forever. [30] The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice. [31] The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide. [32] The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to kill him. [33] Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. [34] Wait for Yahweh, and keep his way, And he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. [35] I have seen the wicked in great power, Spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil. [36] But he passed away, and, behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found. [37] Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, For there is a future for the man of peace. [38] As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off. [39] But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. [40] Yahweh helps them, and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, Because they have taken refuge in him.

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