Vengeance belongs to God. That’s a tough pill to swallow. For starters, it assumes the existence of a divine being—the God of the Bible, recognized by both Jews and Christians. This presents hurdles that many struggle to overcome. Beyond that, we are left wrestling with the concept of justice. The instinct to repay evil with evil is ingrained in us, rooted in our primal instincts and social upbringing within Western Christendom.

As Robert “Bobby” Kennedy famously said, “Don’t get mad, get even.” But for the average person striving to do good and foster a healthy community, achieving that “even” often feels unattainable. In contrast, ancient spiritual and legal texts offer a different perspective. I’ll reference the King James Bible here, as it’s in the public domain and doesn’t require formal citations:

“To me belongeth vengeance and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.” (Deuteronomy 32:35)

This sentiment is echoed by St. Paul: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19).

Years ago, I worked for a large automobile manufacturing finance institution that struggled with age discrimination. As you might expect, if something is so egregious that it becomes painfully obvious, I’m going to speak up—again and again. Unsurprisingly, I was invited to leave rather abruptly. At the time, I felt powerless to take further action, as individuals in such situations often do, particularly when viewing the ongoing landscape of corporate America. The repercussions of poor leadership are evident, and those working under this regime are beginning to see the fallout.

Recently, the very same company that had discriminatory practices shut down its offices and relocated 800 miles away, leaving most employees unable to follow. Those who initially remained silent about the injustice found themselves sidelined as well, just as the scriptures indicated would happen. This ties back into the current job crisis under the “Trump 2.0” administration. While I empathize with those who have lost their government jobs, I also recall my time as a contractor for Region 5 of the EPA out of Chicago. I witnessed firsthand the consequences of the ill will that developed among those who refused to help when they had the chance.

It’s regrettable to see others facing the repercussions now, but, as scripture foretold, this is the way of the world:

“Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;
Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.”