The Impartiality of God

Therefore you have (A)no excuse, [a]you foolish person, (B)everyone of you who passes judgment; for [b]in that matter in which (C)you judge someone else, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God [c]rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, [d](D)you foolish person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and yet does them as well, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of (E)the riches of His (F)kindness and [e](G)restraint and (H)patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But [f]because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart (I)you are storing up wrath for yourself (J)on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, (K)who will repay each person according to his deeds: to those who by (L)perseverance in doing good seek (M)glory, honor, and (N)immortality, He will give (O)eternal life; but to those who are (P)self-serving and (Q)do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation. There will be (R)tribulation and distress [g]for every soul of mankind who does evil, [h]for the Jew (S)first and also [i]for the Greek, 10 but (T)glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does what is 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 [j](W)without the Law will also perish [k]without the Law, and all who have sinned [l]under the Law will be judged [m]by the Law; 13 for it is (X)not the hearers [n]of the Law who are [o]righteous before God, but the doers [p]of the Law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have [q]the Law [r](Y)instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having [s]the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show (Z)the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying 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 mankind through Christ Jesus.

The Jews under the Law

17 But if you call yourself a [t]Jew and (AC)rely [u]upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and [v](AD)distinguish the things that matter, being instructed from the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to people who are blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 a [w]corrector of the foolish, a teacher of [x]the immature, possessing in the Law (AE)the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth— 21 you, therefore, (AF)who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who [y]preach that one is not to steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one is not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who loathe idols, do you (AG)rob temples? 23 You who (AH)boast [z]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 [aa]the Law; but if you are a violator [ab]of the Law, (AL)your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision. 26 (AM)So if (AN)the [ac]uncircumcised man (AO)keeps the requirements of the Law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision? 27 And (AP)he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not (AQ)judge you who [ad]though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a violator [ae]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 of the heart, by the (AU)Spirit, not by the letter; (AV)and his praise is not from people, but from God.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:1 Lit O
  2. Romans 2:1 Or when you judge
  3. Romans 2:2 Lit is according to truth against
  4. Romans 2:3 Lit O
  5. Romans 2:4 I.e., from inflicting punishment
  6. Romans 2:5 Or in accordance with
  7. Romans 2:9 Lit upon
  8. Romans 2:9 Lit of the
  9. Romans 2:9 Lit of the
  10. Romans 2:12 Or without law
  11. Romans 2:12 Or without law
  12. Romans 2:12 Or under law
  13. Romans 2:12 Or by law
  14. Romans 2:13 Or of law
  15. Romans 2:13 Or just
  16. Romans 2:13 Or of law
  17. Romans 2:14 Or law
  18. Romans 2:14 Lit by nature
  19. Romans 2:14 Or law
  20. Romans 2:17 Or Judean
  21. Romans 2:17 Or upon law
  22. Romans 2:18 Or approve
  23. Romans 2:20 Or instructor
  24. Romans 2:20 Lit infants
  25. Romans 2:21 Or proclaim
  26. Romans 2:23 Or in law
  27. Romans 2:25 Or law
  28. Romans 2:25 Or of law
  29. Romans 2:26 Lit uncircumcision
  30. Romans 2:27 Lit through the letter
  31. Romans 2:27 Or of law

Derfor er du uten undskyldning, menneske, hvem du enn er som dømmer. For idet du dømmer din næste, fordømmer du dig selv; for du gjør det samme, du som dog dømmer;

men vi vet at Guds dom, som sannhet byder, er over dem som gjør slikt.

Men mener du det, du menneske, du som dømmer dem som gjør slikt, og selv gjør det, at du skal undfly Guds dom?

Eller forakter du hans godhets og tålmods og langmods rikdom, og vet ikke at Guds godhet driver dig til omvendelse?

Ved din hårdhet og ditt ubotferdige hjerte ophoper du dig vrede på vredens dag, den dag da Guds rettferdige dom åpenbares,

han som skal betale enhver efter hans gjerninger:

dem som med utholdenhet i god gjerning søker herlighet og ære og uforgjengelighet, skal han gi evig liv,

men dem som er gjenstridige og ulydige mot sannheten, men lydige mot urettferdigheten, dem skal times vrede og harme.

Trengsel og angst skal komme over hver menneskesjel som gjør det onde, både jøde først og så greker;

10 men herlighet og ære og fred skal times hver den som gjør det gode, både jøde først og så greker.

11 For Gud gjør ikke forskjell på folk:

12 alle som syndet uten loven, skal også gå fortapt uten loven, og alle som syndet under loven, skal dømmes ved loven;

13 for ikke de som hører loven, er rettferdige for Gud, men de som gjør efter loven, skal bli rettferdiggjort.

14 For når hedningene, som ikke har loven, av naturen gjør det loven byder, da er disse, som dog ikke har loven, sig selv en lov;

15 de viser at lovens gjerning er skrevet i deres hjerter, idet også deres samvittighet gir sitt vidnesbyrd, og deres tanker innbyrdes anklager eller også forsvarer dem -

16 på den dag da Gud skal dømme det skjulte hos menneskene efter mitt evangelium ved Jesus Kristus.

17 Men om du kalles jøde og setter din lit til loven og roser dig av Gud

18 og kjenner hans vilje og dømmer om de forskjellige ting, idet du lærer av loven,

19 og trøster dig til å være en veiviser for blinde, et lys for dem som er i mørke,

20 en opdrager for dårer, en lærer for umyndige, da du har den rette form for kunnskap og sannhet i loven:

21 du som altså lærer en annen, lærer du ikke dig selv? du som preker at en ikke skal stjele, stjeler du?

22 du som sier at en ikke skal drive hor, driver du hor? du som har motbydelighet for avgudene, raner du avgudenes templer?

23 Du som roser dig av loven, du vanærer Gud ved å bryte loven!

24 For for eders skyld spottes Guds navn blandt hedningene, som skrevet er.

25 For omskjærelsen har vel sin nytte om du holder loven; men er du en lov-bryter, da er din omskjærelse blitt til forhud.

26 Om altså den uomskårne holder lovens bud, skal da ikke hans forhud bli regnet som omskjærelse?

27 Og den av naturen uomskårne som opfyller loven, skal dømme dig, du som med bokstav og omskjærelse er en lov-bryter.

28 For ikke den er jøde som er det i det åpenbare; heller ikke er det omskjærelse som skjer i det åpenbare, på kjøttet;

29 men den som er jøde i det skjulte, han er jøde, og omskjærelsen er hjertets omskjærelse i Ånden, ikke i bokstaven; en sådan har sin ros, ikke av mennesker, men av Gud.

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