Philistines Oppress Again

13 Now the sons of Israel (A)again did evil in the sight of the Lord, so that the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines forty years.

There was a certain man of (B)Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had borne no children. (C)Then the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son. Now therefore, be careful (D)not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. (E)For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a (F)Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, “(G)A man of God came to me and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. And I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name. But he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

Then Manoah entreated the Lord and said, “O Lord, please let (H)the man of God whom You have sent come to us again that he may teach us what to do for the boy who is to be born.” God listened to the voice of Manoah; and (I)the angel of God came again to the woman as she was sitting in the field, but Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 So the woman ran quickly and told her [a]husband, “Behold, (J)the man who [b]came the other day has appeared to me.” 11 Then Manoah arose and followed his wife, and when he came to the man he said to him, “Are you (K)the man who spoke to the woman?” And he said, “I am.” 12 Manoah said, “Now when your words come to pass, what shall be the boy’s mode of life and his vocation?” 13 So (L)the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “(M)Let the woman pay attention [c]to all that I said. 14 She should not eat anything that comes from the (N)vine nor drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; let her observe all that I commanded.”

15 Then Manoah said to (O)the angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain you so that we may prepare a young goat for you.” 16 The angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Though you detain me, (P)I will not eat your [d]food, but if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord. 17 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “(Q)What is your name, so that when your words come to pass, we may honor you?” 18 But the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is [e](R)wonderful?” 19 So (S)Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering and offered it on the rock to the Lord, and He performed wonders while Manoah and his wife looked on. 20 For it came about when the flame went up from the altar toward heaven, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they (T)fell on their faces to the ground.

21 Now the angel of the Lord did not appear to Manoah or his wife again. (U)Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. 22 So Manoah said to his wife, “(V)We will surely die, for we have seen God.” 23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have (W)shown us all these things, nor would He have let us hear things like this at this time.”

24 Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the (X)child grew up and the Lord blessed him. 25 And (Y)the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in [f](Z)Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 13:10 Lit husband, and said to him
  2. Judges 13:10 Lit came to me
  3. Judges 13:13 Lit from
  4. Judges 13:16 Lit bread
  5. Judges 13:18 I.e. incomprehensible
  6. Judges 13:25 I.e. the camp of Dan

The Birth of Samson

13 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines(A) for forty years.(B)

A certain man of Zorah,(C) named Manoah,(D) from the clan of the Danites,(E) had a wife who was childless,(F) unable to give birth. The angel of the Lord(G) appeared to her(H) and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.(I) Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink(J) and that you do not eat anything unclean.(K) You will become pregnant and have a son(L) whose head is never to be touched by a razor(M) because the boy is to be a Nazirite,(N) dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead(O) in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

Then the woman went to her husband and told him, “A man of God(P) came to me. He looked like an angel of God,(Q) very awesome.(R) I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name. But he said to me, ‘You will become pregnant and have a son. Now then, drink no wine(S) or other fermented drink(T) and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.(U)’”

Then Manoah(V) prayed to the Lord: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God(W) you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.”

God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her. 10 The woman hurried to tell her husband, “He’s here! The man who appeared to me(X) the other day!”

11 Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, “Are you the man who talked to my wife?”

“I am,” he said.

12 So Manoah asked him, “When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy’s life and work?”

13 The angel of the Lord answered, “Your wife must do all that I have told her. 14 She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink(Y) nor eat anything unclean.(Z) She must do everything I have commanded her.”

15 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat(AA) for you.”

16 The angel of the Lord replied, “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering,(AB) offer it to the Lord.” (Manoah did not realize(AC) that it was the angel of the Lord.)

17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, “What is your name,(AD) so that we may honor you when your word comes true?”

18 He replied, “Why do you ask my name?(AE) It is beyond understanding.[a] 19 Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock(AF) to the Lord. And the Lord did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: 20 As the flame(AG) blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground.(AH) 21 When the angel of the Lord did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized(AI) that it was the angel of the Lord.

22 “We are doomed(AJ) to die!” he said to his wife. “We have seen(AK) God!”

23 But his wife answered, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this.”(AL)

24 The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson.(AM) He grew(AN) and the Lord blessed him,(AO) 25 and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir(AP) him while he was in Mahaneh Dan,(AQ) between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 13:18 Or is wonderful

21 But You, O [a]God, the Lord, deal kindly with me (A)for Your name’s sake;
Because (B)Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me;
22 For (C)I am afflicted and needy,
And [b]my heart is (D)wounded within me.
23 I am passing (E)like a shadow when it lengthens;
I am shaken off (F)like the locust.
24 My (G)knees [c]are weak from (H)fasting,
And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness.
25 I also have become a (I)reproach to them;
When they see me, they (J)wag their head.

26 (K)Help me, O Lord my God;
Save me according to Your lovingkindness.
27 [d]And let them (L)know that this is Your hand;
You, Lord, have done it.
28 (M)Let them curse, but You bless;
When they arise, they shall be ashamed,
But Your (N)servant shall be glad.
29 [e]Let (O)my accusers be clothed with dishonor,
And [f]let them (P)cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

30 With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord;
And in the midst of many (Q)I will praise Him.
31 For He stands (R)at the right hand of the needy,
To save him from those who (S)judge his soul.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 109:21 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  2. Psalm 109:22 Lit one has pierced my heart within me
  3. Psalm 109:24 Or totter
  4. Psalm 109:27 Or That they may know
  5. Psalm 109:29 Or My accusers will be
  6. Psalm 109:29 Or they will cover

21 But you, Sovereign Lord,
    help me for your name’s sake;(A)
    out of the goodness of your love,(B) deliver me.(C)
22 For I am poor and needy,
    and my heart is wounded within me.
23 I fade away like an evening shadow;(D)
    I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees give(E) way from fasting;(F)
    my body is thin and gaunt.(G)
25 I am an object of scorn(H) to my accusers;
    when they see me, they shake their heads.(I)

26 Help me,(J) Lord my God;
    save me according to your unfailing love.
27 Let them know(K) that it is your hand,
    that you, Lord, have done it.
28 While they curse,(L) may you bless;
    may those who attack me be put to shame,
    but may your servant rejoice.(M)
29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace
    and wrapped in shame(N) as in a cloak.

30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord;
    in the great throng(O) of worshipers I will praise him.
31 For he stands at the right hand(P) of the needy,
    to save their lives from those who would condemn them.

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The Impartiality of God

Therefore you have (A)no excuse, [a](B)everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which (C)you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God [b]rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, (D)O man, [c]when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of (E)the riches of His (F)kindness and (G)tolerance and (H)patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But [d]because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart (I)you are storing up wrath for yourself (J)in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, (K)who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by (L)perseverance in doing good seek for (M)glory and honor and (N)immortality, (O)eternal life; but to those who are (P)selfishly ambitious and (Q)do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be (R)tribulation and distress [e]for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew (S)first and also of the Greek, 10 but (T)glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew (U)first and also to the Greek. 11 For (V)there is no partiality with God.

12 For all who have sinned [f](W)without the Law will also perish [g]without the Law, and all who have sinned [h]under the Law will be judged [i]by the Law; 13 for it is (X)not the hearers [j]of the Law who are [k]just before God, but the doers [l]of the Law will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have [m]the Law do [n](Y)instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having [o]the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show (Z)the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, (AA)according to my gospel, (AB)God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

The Jew Is Condemned by the Law

17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and (AC)rely [p]upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and [q](AD)approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 a [r]corrector of the foolish, a teacher of [s]the immature, having in the Law (AE)the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth, 21 you, therefore, (AF)who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who [t]preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you (AG)rob temples? 23 You who (AH)boast [u]in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? 24 For “(AI)the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles (AJ)because of you,” just as it is written.

25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you (AK)practice [v]the Law; but if you are a transgressor [w]of the Law, (AL)your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 (AM)So if (AN)the [x]uncircumcised man (AO)keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 And (AP)he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not (AQ)judge you who [y]though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor [z]of the Law? 28 For (AR)he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But (AS)he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and (AT)circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the (AU)Spirit, not by the letter; (AV)and his praise is not from men, but from God.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:1 Lit O man, everyone who
  2. Romans 2:2 Lit is according to truth against
  3. Romans 2:3 Lit who passes judgment
  4. Romans 2:5 Or in accordance with
  5. Romans 2:9 Lit upon
  6. Romans 2:12 Or without law
  7. Romans 2:12 Or without law
  8. Romans 2:12 Or under law
  9. Romans 2:12 Or by law
  10. Romans 2:13 Or of law
  11. Romans 2:13 Or righteous
  12. Romans 2:13 Or of law
  13. Romans 2:14 Or law
  14. Romans 2:14 Lit by nature
  15. Romans 2:14 Or law
  16. Romans 2:17 Or upon law
  17. Romans 2:18 Or distinguish between the things which differ
  18. Romans 2:20 Or instructor
  19. Romans 2:20 Lit infants
  20. Romans 2:21 Or proclaim
  21. Romans 2:23 Or in law
  22. Romans 2:25 Or law
  23. Romans 2:25 Or of law
  24. Romans 2:26 Lit uncircumcision
  25. Romans 2:27 Lit through the letter
  26. Romans 2:27 Or of law

God’s Righteous Judgment

You, therefore, have no excuse,(A) 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.(B) 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(C) of his kindness,(D) forbearance(E) and patience,(F) not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?(G)

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

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law(T) will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey(U) the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law,(V) they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets(W) through Jesus Christ,(X) as my gospel(Y) declares.

The Jews and the Law

17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;(Z) 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?(AA) 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?(AB) 23 You who boast in the law,(AC) do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”[b](AD)

25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law,(AE) but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.(AF) 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements,(AG) will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?(AH) 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you(AI) who, even though you have the[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly,(AJ) nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.(AK) 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart,(AL) by the Spirit,(AM) not by the written code.(AN) Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.(AO)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:6 Psalm 62:12; Prov. 24:12
  2. Romans 2:24 Isaiah 52:5 (see Septuagint); Ezek. 36:20,22
  3. Romans 2:27 Or who, by means of a