Revenge consists of inflicting “pain or injury in return for an injury received.” Vengeance is similarly defined. However, “when such infliction proceeds from a mere love of justice, and the necessity of punishing offenders for the support of the laws, it is vengeance, and is warrantable and just. In this case, vengeance is a just retribution, recompense or punishment. In this latter sense the word is used in Scripture, and frequently applied to the punishments inflicted by God on sinners” (Webster, American Dictionary).