God’s Righteous Judgment

2 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. ² Now we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. ³ Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? ⁴ 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? ⁵ 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. ⁶ He will repay each one according to his works:^{[c](J) 7} eternal life^(K) to those who by persistence in doing good^(L) seek glory, honor,^(M) and immortality;^{(N) 8} but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking^(O) and disobey the truth^(P) while obeying unrighteousness. ⁹ 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)

Psalm 51

A Prayer for Restoration

For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.^(A)

²² But^(A) be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face^[a] in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. ²⁵ But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.^(B)