The Avenger

Psalm 35: 1 – 28

The Avenger

A Psalm of David.

1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler and stand up for my help. 3 Also draw out the spear and stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.” 4 Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor who seek after my life; Let those be turned back and brought to confusion who plot my hurt. 5 Let them be like chaff before the wind and let the angel of the LORD chase them. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the LORD pursue them. 7 For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit, which they have dug without cause for my life. 8 Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly and let his net that he has hidden catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall. 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, “LORD, who is like You, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?” 11 Fierce witnesses rise up; They ask me things that I do not know. 12 They reward me evil for good, to the sorrow of my soul. 13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart. 14 I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother. 15 But in my adversity, they rejoiced and gathered together; Attackers gathered against me, and I did not know it; They tore at me and did not cease; 16 With ungodly mockers at feasts they gnashed at me with their teeth. 17 Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions, my precious life from the lions. 18 I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people. 19 Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies; Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause. 20 For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters against the quiet ones in the land. 21 They also opened their mouth wide against me, and said, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it.” 22 This You have seen, O LORD; Do not keep silence. O Lord do not be far from me. 3 Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication, to my cause, my God and my Lord. 24 Vindicate me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me. 25 Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, so we would have it!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.” 26 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion who rejoice at my hurt; Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who exalt themselves against me. 27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. 28 And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.

Two words sound familiar. I am talking about ‘Revenge’ and ‘Avenge.’ As revenge and avenge fall among the many pairs of words in English language that have similar meanings but are not synonymous, one should know the difference between revenge and avenge if one is to use these words accurately. Many people, thinking such words like revenge and avenge to be the same, use them interchangeably, which is a wrong practice. Though having nearly same meaning, the words revenge and avenge are different and are used in different contexts.

Avenge is a verb. To avenge is to punish someone for his wrongdoing for the sake of justice. The word avenge means ‘to inflict harm in return for (an injury or wrong done to oneself or another.’ The word ‘Avenger’ is a noun that is known as a derivative of the verb avenge.

While avenge is a verb, revenge can be both verb as well as a noun. Revenge also has similar meaning to avenge, but justice takes a back seat and the focus is to inflict harm on the other person using violence. However, revenge can be an insult or a taunt in words and not necessarily physical in the true sense of the term.

When it comes to revenge, there are even phrases that use this word, revenge. For example, revenge is a dish best served (or eaten) cold. This is actually a popular proverb that means “vengeance is often more satisfying if it is not exacted immediately.”