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God’s Righteous Judgment

Therefore you are (A)without excuse, (B)O man, everyone 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 [a]rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you presume this, (D)O man—who passes judgment on those who practice such things and does the same—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of (E)the riches of His (F)kindness and (G)forbearance and (H)patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But [b]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 repay to each according to his works: 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 anger. There will be (R)affliction and turmoil [c]for every soul of man who works out evil, of the Jew (S)first and also of the Greek, 10 but (T)glory and honor and peace to everyone who works 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 [d](W)without the Law will also perish [e]without the Law, and all who have sinned [f]under the Law will be judged [g]by the Law. 13 For it is (X)not the hearers [h]of the Law who are [i]just before God, but the doers [j]of the Law will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have [k]the Law (Y)naturally do the things of the Law, these, not having [l]the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they demonstrate (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 Judged by the Law

17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and (AC)rely [m]upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and [n](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 [o]corrector of the foolish, a teacher of [p]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 [q]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 [r]in the Law, through your transgression of 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 [s]the Law, but if you are a transgressor [t]of the Law, (AL)your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 (AM)So if (AN)the [u]uncircumcised man (AO)observes the righteous requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And (AP)he who is physically uncircumcised, if he [v]fulfills the Law, will he not (AQ)judge you who, through the letter of the Law and circumcision, are a transgressor [w]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 2:2 Lit is according to truth against
  2. Romans 2:5 Or in accordance with
  3. Romans 2:9 Lit upon
  4. Romans 2:12 Or without law
  5. Romans 2:12 Or without law
  6. Romans 2:12 Or under law
  7. Romans 2:12 Or by law
  8. Romans 2:13 Or of law
  9. Romans 2:13 Or righteous
  10. Romans 2:13 Or of law
  11. Romans 2:14 Or law
  12. Romans 2:14 Or law
  13. Romans 2:17 Or upon law
  14. Romans 2:18 Or distinguish between the things which differ
  15. Romans 2:20 Or instructor
  16. Romans 2:20 Lit infants
  17. Romans 2:21 Or proclaim
  18. Romans 2:23 Or in law
  19. Romans 2:25 Or law
  20. Romans 2:25 Or of law
  21. Romans 2:26 Lit uncircumcision
  22. Romans 2:27 Or completes, cf. James 2:8
  23. Romans 2:27 Or of law

God’s Righteous Judgment

Therefore, every one of you[a](A) who judges is without excuse.(B) For when you judge another,(C) you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness,(D) restraint,(E) and patience,(F) not recognizing[b] that God’s kindness(G) is intended to lead you to repentance? Because of your hardened and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath(H) for yourself in the day of wrath,(I) when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. He will repay each one according to his works:[c](J) eternal life(K) to those who by persistence in doing good(L) seek glory, honor,(M) and immortality;(N) but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking(O) and disobey the truth(P) while obeying unrighteousness. There will be affliction and distress(Q) for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek;(R) 10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no favoritism with God.(S)

12 For all who sin without the law(T) will also perish without the law, and all who sin under[d] the law will be judged by the law. 13 For the hearers of the law(U) are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified.[e] 14 So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law,(V) do[f] what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law[g] is written on their hearts.(W) Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them[h] 16 on the day when God judges(X) what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.(Y)

Jewish Violation of the Law

17 Now if[i] you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law,(Z) and boast in God, 18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior,(AA) being instructed from the law, 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth(AB) in the law— 21 you then, who teach another,(AC) don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? 22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples?(AD) 23 You who boast in the law,(AE) do you dishonor God by breaking the law?[j] 24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.[k](AF)

Circumcision of the Heart

25 Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.(AG) 26 So if an uncircumcised(AH) man keeps the law’s requirements,(AI) will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you(AJ) who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly,(AK) and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. 29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly,(AL) and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter.[l](AM) That person’s praise is not from people but from God.(AN)

Footnotes

  1. 2:1 Lit Therefore, O man, every one
  2. 2:4 Or patience, because you do not recognize
  3. 2:6 Ps 62:12; Pr 24:12
  4. 2:12 Lit in
  5. 2:13 Or acquitted
  6. 2:14 Or who do not have the law, instinctively do
  7. 2:15 The code of conduct required by the law
  8. 2:15 Internal debate, either in a person or among the pagan moralists
  9. 2:17 Other mss read Look
  10. 2:23 Or you dishonor God by breaking the law.
  11. 2:24 Is 52:5
  12. 2:29 Or heart—spiritually, not literally