God’s Righteous Judgment

1Therefore, any one of youa, b who judges is without excuse.c For when you judge another,d you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. 2We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. 3Do you really think — anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same — that you will escape God’s judgment? 4Or do you despise the riches of His kindness,e restraint,f and patience,g not recognizingh that God’s kindnessi is intended to lead you to repentance? 5But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrathj for yourself in the day of wrath,k when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. 6He will repay each one according to his works:l, m 7eternal lifen to those who by persistence in doing goodo seek glory, honor,p and immortality;q 8but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seekingr and disobey the truths but are obeying unrighteousness; 9affliction and distresst for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek;u 10but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 11There is no favoritism with God.v

12All those who sinned without the laww will also perish without the law, and all those who sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13For the hearers of the lawx are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.y 14So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctivelyz do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15They show that the work of the lawaa is written on their hearts.ab Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse themac 16on the day when God judgesad what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.ae

Jewish Violation of the Law

17Now ifaf you call yourself a Jew, and rest in the law,ag boast in God, 18know His will, and approve the things that are superior,ah being instructed from the law, 19and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the full expressionai of knowledge and truthaj in the law — 21you then, who teach another,ak don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal” — do you steal? 22You who say, “You must not commit adultery” — do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples?al 23You who boast in the law,am do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.an, ao

Circumcision of the Heart

25For circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.ap 26Therefore if an uncircumcisedaq man keeps the law’s requirements,ar will his uncircumcision not be counted as circumcision? 27A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who fulfills the law, will judge youas who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. 28For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly,at and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. 29On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly,au and circumcision is of the heart — by the Spirit, not the letter.av, aw That man’s praiseax is not from men but from God.ay