Bible Verses About Loving Your Enemies (KJV)
Bible verses about loving your enemies in the King James Version, from Matthew 5 to Romans 12, with a short reflection and a prayer for those who hurt us.
Loving an enemy does not mean pretending we were not hurt, or that what was done was fine. In these verses Jesus asks for something both simpler and harder: that we wish good for the person who wronged us, pray for them, and refuse to answer evil with evil.
That kind of love usually begins as a decision, not a feeling. We pray for the person even when we do not want to, and little by little God softens what is hard in us. Notice too that these verses also protect us. Resentment keeps us tied to the one who hurt us, and mercy sets us free.
If you are carrying a wound today, start small. Say one honest prayer for the person, and leave the rest to God.
A prayer for those who hurt us
Lord Jesus, You prayed for those who crucified You. I confess it is hard for me to pray for the one who hurt me. You know my anger and my pain.
Give me a heart like Yours. Help me to bless and not to curse, to do good and not to seek revenge. Heal what was wounded in me, and bring the one who wronged me to know Your mercy.
Where I cannot forgive yet, give me the desire to forgive. Keep my heart from bitterness, and fill it with Your peace. Amen.
Scripture to Pray With
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 5:44 (KJV)
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:45 (KJV)
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Luke 6:27-28 (KJV)
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Luke 6:31 (KJV)
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Luke 6:35 (KJV)
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Luke 6:36 (KJV)
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Luke 23:34 (KJV)
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Romans 12:14 (KJV)
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Romans 12:17-18 (KJV)
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:20-21 (KJV)
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Proverbs 25:21-22 (KJV)
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Bible say about loving your enemies?
Jesus commands it in Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.
Does loving your enemies mean letting them hurt you?
No. Love means wishing them good and refusing revenge. It does not require staying in danger or calling wrong right.
What does heaping coals of fire on his head mean?
In Proverbs 25:22 and Romans 12:20 it is commonly understood as kindness that stirs the conscience of an enemy. The point is to overcome evil with good, not to cause harm.
How do I pray for someone who hurt me?
Start with honesty. Tell God how you feel, then ask him to bless the person and to heal your own heart. You can pray the words even before you feel them.
Is it a sin to rejoice when an enemy suffers?
Proverbs 24:17 warns against being glad when an enemy falls, and Romans 12:15 calls us to weep with those who weep.
Last updated 2026-10-26