Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves (see the note at Romans 12:14 ), but [rather] give place unto wrath, х dote (G1325) topon (G5117) tee (G3588) orgee (G3709)]. Ordinary readers take this to mean, 'give room,' or 'space to wrath' to spend itself; and our translators must have so understood the precept. But besides that the phrase "give place" suggests rather the sense of 'give scope to' the exercise of, and might seem to imply the stimulating of an enemy's wrath, the following context clearly shows that the "wrath" referred to is God's avenging wrath, which, instead of taking into our own hands, we are here enjoined to give room for or await. So nearly every interpreter, ancient and modern, explains the injunction.