Wiktionary
vb. To incur negative consequences of one's deeds; to suffer as a result of some choice.
Usage examples of "pay the penalty".
Vinegar Nell, no less than the other mutineers, was a criminal, and would be arrested, and tried, and would pay the penalty for her crime.
So Yoningu was less of a prosecutor than a plaintiff, and if the court decided that he had brought false charges then he would pay the penalty -- a good way to prevent frivolous litigation and an excellent means of deterring the proliferation of lawyers.
In every contest, the Catholics (if we may anticipate that name) were obliged to pay the penalty of their own faults, and of those of their adversaries.
Until then men will have to pay the penalty for making mistakes with no one to help them because there is no one to help them.
He also was sworn to obey the code of the swordsmen, and if he found against Nnanji, then Nnanji had brought false charges and must pay the penalty.
But that is not what I brought you to see-though as for you, Samwise, you were not brought, and do but pay the penalty of your watchfulness.