Romans 2

¹Therefore you have no excuse , O man , every one of you who judges . For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself , because you, the judge , practice the very same things .

²We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things .

³Do you suppose , O man —you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself — that you will escape the judgment of God ?

⁴Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience , not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance ?

⁵But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed .

⁶He will render to each one according to his works :

⁷to those who by patience in well- doing seek for glory and honor and immortality , he will give eternal life ;

⁸but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth , but obey unrighteousness , there will be wrath and fury .

⁹There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil , the Jew first and also the Greek ,

¹⁰but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good , the Jew first and also the Greek .

¹¹For God shows no partiality .

¹²For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law , and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law .

¹³For 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 , 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 written on their hearts , while their conscience also bears witness , and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

¹⁶on that day when , according to my gospel , God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus .

¹⁷But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God

¹⁸and know his will and approve what is excellent , because you are instructed from the law ;

¹⁹and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind , a light to those who are in darkness ,

²⁰an instructor of the foolish , a teacher of children , having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth —

²¹you then who teach others , do you not teach yourself ? While you preach against stealing , do you steal ?

²²You who say that one must not commit adultery , do you commit adultery ? You who abhor idols , do you rob temples ?

²³You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law .

²⁴For , as it is written , The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you .

²⁵For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law , but if you break the law , your circumcision becomes uncircumcision .

²⁶So , if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law , will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision ?

²⁷Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law .

²⁸For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly , nor is circumcision outward and physical .

²⁹But a Jew is inwardly , and circumcision is a matter of the heart , by the Spirit , not by the letter . His praise is not from man but from God .