Romans 2:12-16

New Living Translation

¹²When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. ¹³For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. ¹⁴Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. ¹⁵They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. ¹⁶And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

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Romans 2:12-16

English Standard Version

God's Judgment and the Law

¹²For all who have sinned ^(A)without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³For ^(B)it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. ¹⁴For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, ^(C)by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵They show that the work of the law is ^(D)written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them ¹⁶^(E)on that day when, ^(F)according to my gospel, God judges ^(G)the secrets of men ^(H)by Christ Jesus.

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Romans 2:12-16

New International Version

¹²All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law^(A) will be judged by the law. ¹³For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey^(B) 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,^(C) they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵They 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.) ¹⁶This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets^(D) through Jesus Christ,^(E) as my gospel^(F) declares.