Imagine this scenario: Thomas doesn’t want to go to school today. Or tomorrow. Or ever again. It all started three months ago when his schoolmates spread vicious rumors about him. Then came the nicknames. Sometimes someone will knock Thomas’ textbooks out of his hands and act as if it were an accident, or one person in a group behind him will shove him, and by the time Thomas turns around, he can’t tell who did it. Yesterday, the bullying took an even more sinister turn when Thomas received an online threat . . .

If you were Thomas, how would you respond?

You are not totally powerless! In fact, you can fight a bully without using your fists. How?

•   DON’T REACT. The Bible says: “A stupid person gives vent to all his feelings, but the wise one calmly keeps them in check.” (Proverbs 29:11) If you remain as calm as possible—at least on the outside—those bullying you may well lose interest.

• DON’T RETALIATE. The Bible says: “Return evil for evil to no one.” (Romans 12:17) Seeking revenge will only make the situation worse.

• DON’T WALK INTO TROUBLE. The Bible says: “The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself.” (Proverbs 22:3) To the extent possible, avoid people who could cause trouble, and avoid situations where bullying may occur.

• TRY AN UNEXPECTED RESPONSE. The Bible says: “A mild answer turns away rage.” (Proverbs 15:1) You can even try humor. For example, if a bully asserts that you’re overweight, you could shrug your shoulders and say, “I guess I could lose a few pounds!”

• WALK AWAY. “Silence shows that you are mature and that you are stronger than the person harassing you,” says 19-year-old Nora. “It demonstrates self-control—something the bully doesn’t have.”—2 Timothy 2:24.

• WORK ON YOUR SELF-CONFIDENCE. Bullies can often detect those who think negatively of themselves and who are thus not likely to fight back. In contrast, many bullies will back off if they see that you aren’t giving them any power over you.

• TELL SOMEONE. A former schoolteacher says: “I would urge anyone who is being bullied to speak up. It’s the right thing to do, and it can prevent someone else from being bullied.”

Ghee igiemwi na ghee: Thomas ma hoo nọ yo esuku vbe ẹrẹna ra akhuẹ. Ọ ma ghi zẹdẹ hoo nọ yo hiehie. Uki eha ẹre ọ wa ye na, ne ọ ke wẹẹ irẹn i ghi yo rhunmwuda ohoghe ne ihua re ba re vbe esuku. Erriọ iran vbe ya mu ovan nibun nẹ. Ugbẹnso ọmwa ba wa gheghe do gban ebe nọ rre Thomas obọ fua, ọmwa ọvbehe wa vbe ke uwu ẹbu rre do sua re, sokpan ọ gha gbaro ghee iyeke, ẹi ghi bẹghe ọmwa nọ ruẹre. Nọ sunu nodẹ ẹre ọ ghi wa khọ sẹ, rhunmwuda wẹẹ, uhunmwu ne iran gie giẹ vbe intanẹt rhiema wẹẹ arrọọ ọghẹe wa rre ikpadede . . .

Adeghẹ uwẹ ọre Thomas, de emwi ne u gha te ru?

Ẹtin ruẹ ma he wa fo fẹfẹfẹ! Vbene ẹmwata, u gha sẹtin gbe ọmwa nọ zẹ ọmwa gbe vbene u i na fi ẹre ekpa. De vbene u khian ya ru ọna hẹ?

•   GHẸ GIE OHU MU RUẸ. E Baibol khare wẹẹ: “Te avbe akpa wa rhie ohu iran ma ne agbọn hia miẹn, sokpan avbe umẹwaẹn ghi fẹko ziengbe, iran ghi gbe ibiẹ rrie.” (Itan 29:11) Adeghẹ u na fẹko gbe ibiẹ rrie—ra te u wa dọlọ aro yi kẹkan, agharhemiẹn wẹẹ ohu mu ruẹ vbuwe egbe—egbe sẹtin wọọ emwa ni zẹ ruẹ gbe.

• GHẸ RRIAIKHI. E Baibol khare wẹẹ: “Ọmwa gha ruẹ khọ, ghẹ vbe ye ọkhọ haẹ re nẹ.” (Rom 12:17) Te ọ khian khọ sayọ deghẹ u na gha hoo ne u rriaikhi ne egbuẹ.

• GHẸ WA YA OWẸ RUẸ EVEVA KHIAN GHA RRIE EHE NE ẸMWẸ YE. E Baibol khare wẹẹ: “Emwa ni wan gha miẹn wẹẹ orueghe dee, iran ghi rhie uhunmwu iran lẹre.” (Itan 22:3) Hia vbe odẹ ke odẹ ne u ya lẹẹ ne emwa ni ru ẹmwẹ kevbe eke ne emwa gha na zẹ ruẹ gbe.

• WANNIẸ IRAN VBE ODẸ NE IRAN MA TE YARO YI. E Baibol khare wẹẹ: “Ewanniẹ ne khuẹrhẹ ẹre ọ dọ ohu yọ.” (Itan 15:1) U sẹtin wa giẹ ye ẹmwẹ ne iran ta. Vbe igiemwi, adeghẹ ọmwa nọ zẹ ruẹ gbe na tie ruẹ agidigbi, u sẹtin wa kha wẹẹ, “Mẹ nọ wa siamẹ fo nẹ na!”

• KPA VBA RRE. Nora nọ rre ukpo 19 khare wẹẹ, “adeghẹ u na hunwan, ọni rhiema wẹẹ u mwẹ ẹwaẹn kevbe u wegbe sẹ ọmwa nọ zẹ ruẹ gbe. Ọ vbe rhiema wẹẹ u sẹtin dia egbuẹ—emwi ne emwa ni zẹ ruẹ gbe i sẹtin ru.”—2 Timoti 2:24.

• HIA NE U GHA MWẸ UDINMWẸ. Emwa ni zẹ ọmwa gbe keghi gualọ ọmwa nẹi ghee egbe ẹre sẹ ọmwa kevbe nẹi khian rriaikhi. Sokpan, iran na ghee ruẹ zẹvbe ọmwa nai sẹtin de yan, iran ghi gha lẹẹ nuẹ.

• TAMA ỌMWA ỌVBEHE. Orhunmwu ọkpa nọ ka gha re ọmamwaemwi keghi kha wẹẹ: “Ibude ne I khian rhie ne ọmwaikọmwa na zẹ gbe ọre nọ guan ladian. Emwi nọ khẹke nọ rhunmwuda, ọni ẹre ọ khian ru iyobọ nẹ, ne iran ghẹ ghi zọẹ gbe vbe ẹdẹ ọvbehe.”