Why does evil exist? The Bible does not provide a formula, but it confronts the question—and it shows how we can deal with evil: not with more evil, but with good. Here you will find 20 Bible verses about evil and wickedness.
Overcoming evil
Verses about how to deal with evil.
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Do not let evil overcome you, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21Baptismal versesOvercoming
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Do not think you are wise. Do not repay evil for evil or revile in return for reviling. Instead, be zealous about what is good toward everyone.
Romans 12:17
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Let love not be false. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good.
Romans 12:9
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Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but bless those who persecute you, and know that you are called to bless, that you may obtain blessing.
1 Peter 3:9Blessing
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See that no one repays evil for evil, but always pursue what is good, both toward one another and toward everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
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Avoid every evil appearance.
1 Thessalonians 5:22
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Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
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Turn away from evil and do good, and remain forever.
Psalm 37:27
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Seek what is good and not what is evil, that you may live. Then the LORD, the God of armies, will be with you, as you praise him. Hate evil and love what is good; administer justice at the gate, and then the LORD, the God of armies, will be gracious to the rest in Joseph.
Amos 5:14-15
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Do not think you are wise, but fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:7
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Wash your hands, purify yourselves, remove evil from my sight, turn away from evil; learn to do good, seek justice, help the oppressed, defend the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
Isaiah 1:16-17
God and evil
God has the final word—even about evil.
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And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Matthew 6:13Our FatherTemptation
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The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your soul.
Psalm 121:7Baptismal verses
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But the LORD is faithful; he will strengthen you and keep you from evil.
2 Thessalonians 3:3ProtectionOur Father
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You intended to harm me, but God intended to make it good, so that he might save many.
Genesis 50:20Reconciliation
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I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from evil.
John 17:15
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And though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.
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Your eyes are pure, so you cannot look on evil, and you cannot tolerate injustice. Why do you stand by and keep silent while the wicked devour the righteous?
Habakkuk 1:13Holiness
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And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore; for the first things have passed away.
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But we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
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Overcoming evil with good
"Do not let evil overcome you, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). Paul writes this to a church in Rome that was soon to be persecuted. He does not call for passivity, but for a different kind of resistance: do not repay evil for evil, pray for enemies, and even give them food (Romans 12:17-20). Evil should not determine the law of action. Those who strike back become like it; those who do good break the cycle.
Why does God allow evil?
This question runs through the Bible—from the Book of Job to the Lamentations. It does not have a simple answer. But it tells stories in which God turns evil into good. Joseph says to his brothers, who had sold him into slavery: "You intended to harm me, but God intended to make it good" (Genesis 50:20). And it promises that evil will not remain: In the end, God will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). Find out more about Bible verses about sorrow and suffering, Bible verses about justice, and Bible verses about the devil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Overcome evil with good" mean?
In Romans 12:21, Paul calls us not to respond to injustice with revenge, but with good—and thus break the cycle of evil.
What does "deliver us from evil" mean?
With this final petition in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:13), Christians ask God to keep them from evil in every form and deliver them from it.
