28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over(A) to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,(B) 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;(C) 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love,(D) no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death,(E) they not only continue to do these very things but also approve(F) of those who practice them.

God’s Righteous Judgment

You, therefore, have no excuse,(G) you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.(H) Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches(I) of his kindness,(J) forbearance(K) and patience,(L) not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?(M)

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath(N), when his righteous judgment(O) will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a](P) To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor(Q) and immortality,(R) he will give eternal life.(S) But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil,(T) there will be wrath and anger.(U) There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil:(V) first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;(W) 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.(X) 11 For God does not show favoritism.(Y)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:6 Psalm 62:12; Prov. 24:12

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