God’s Righteous Judgment

1Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art, that condemnest another, for by condemning them, you condemn yourself; since you that condemn them, do the same things. 2but we know that the judgment of God against those who commit such crimes, is just. 3do you think then, O man, who do what you condemn in others, that you shall escape the judgment of God? 4or do you despise the riches of his kindness, and forbearance, and long-suffering; not considering that the kindness of God invites you to repentance? 5however by your impenitence, and the insensibility of your heart, you treasure up for yourself wrath against the day of wrath, and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6who will render to every man according to his actions: eternal life to those, 7who by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory, honour, and immortality; 8but unto those who are contentious, and do not yield to the truth, but give way to injustice, indignation and wrath, 9tribulation and anguish to every one that doth evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. 10but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that acts right, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11since with God there is no respect of persons.

12For as many as have sinned without the law, shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law, shall be condemned by the law, 13for not the bare hearers of the law, but they who observe the law, are such as shall be justified, before God. 14when the Gentiles who have not the law, do by nature what the law prescribes, tho' these have not the law, they are a law to themselves: 15for they shew that the duties prescrib'd by the law, are written in their hearts, their consciences bearing witness to it, by their own reasonings alternately accusing and excusing them. 16in the day, when according to my gospel, God shall judge the secret actions of men by Jesus Christ.

The Jews and the Law

17'Tis true, you bear the name of a Jew, you depend upon the law, and boast of your worship: 18you know the divine will, and what is contrary thereto, having been educated in the law: 19you think you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20an instructer of the ignorant, a teacher to the weak, because you have a clear view of the true meaning of the law. 21you therefore who instruct others don't you instruct yourself? 22you who preach against stealing, do you steal? you who declaim against adultery, do you commit adultery? you who abhor idols, do you commit sacrilege? 23and you, who glory in the law, do you dishonour God by the violation of the law? 24for (as it is written) the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles by your miscarriages.

25Circumcision indeed is an advantage, if you keep the law: but if you violate the law, your being a Jew makes you no better than a heathen. 26if therefore an uncircumcised Gentile keep the moral precepts contained in the law, shall not he be reckon'd, as if he were circumcised? 27and shall not a Gentile, tho' he is not actually circumcised, if he fulfil the law, condemn thee, who, tho' literally circumcised, dost yet transgress the law? 28for it is not the Jew in outward appearance, neither is it the external mark of circumcision: 29but it is the Jew, who is so inwardly, and it is the circumcision of the heart, according to the spiritual, not the literal sense, which have the approbation, I do not say of men, but of God.