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Vengeance vs Righteousness - What's the difference?

vengeance | righteousness |

As nouns the difference between vengeance and righteousness

is that vengeance is revenge taken for an insult, injury, or other wrong while righteousness is (uncountable) the quality or state of being righteous; holiness; purity; uprightness; rectitude righteousness, as used in scripture and theology, in which it chiefly occurs, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law.

vengeance

English

Alternative forms

* vengeaunce

Noun

  • Revenge taken for an insult, injury, or other wrong.
  • * 2000 , (Gladiator) (film):
  • My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North; General of the Felix Legions; loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius; father to a murdered son; husband to a murdered wife; and I will have my vengeance , in this life or the next.
  • Desire for revenge.
  • * (Charles Dickens), (Little Dorrit) :
  • Thereupon full of anger, full of jealousy, full of vengeance , she forms
  • * 2008 , Jean Harvey Baker, Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography (ISBN 0393075680):
  • If her husband was all forgiveness, asking the bands to play “Dixie,” she was full of vengeance
  • * 2011 , James Calloway, Black America, Not in This America (ISBN 1462868576):
  • Are they full of vengeance'[?], because they say that people with ' vengeance in their hearts must dig two graves, one for their enemy and the other for themselves.

    Synonyms

    * reprisal * retaliation * retribution * revenge * wreak * See also

    Antonyms

    * reconciliation

    righteousness

    English

    Noun

  • (uncountable) The quality or state of being righteous; holiness; purity; uprightness; rectitude. Righteousness, as used in Scripture and theology, in which it chiefly occurs, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
  • , chapter=4, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=By some paradoxical evolution rancour and intolerance have been established in the vanguard of primitive Christianity. Mrs. Spoker, in common with many of the stricter disciples of righteousness , was as inclement in demeanour as she was cadaverous in aspect.}}
  • (countable) A righteous act, or righteous quality.
  • * (w) lxiv. 6.
  • All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.
  • The act or conduct of one who is righteous.
  • * (Psalms) cvi. 3.
  • Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth rightness at all times.
  • (theology) The state of being right with God; justification; the work of Christ, which is the ground justification.
  • * 1594-7 , (Richard Hooker), '', A Discourse, Section 21
  • There are two kinds of Christian righteousness : the one without us, which we have by imputation; the other in us, which consisteth of faith, hope, and charity, and other Christian virtues.
  • * 1646-7 , (Westminster Shorter Catechism) , Q.33
  • Only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

    Synonyms

    * rectitude, uprightness, holiness, godliness, equity, justice, rightfulness, integrity, honesty, faithfulness