Romans 2

1 Therefore you are without excuse — whoever you are who judge. For in what you judge the other you condemn yourself, since you who judge practice the same things. [a] 2 And we know that God’s judgment is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 But do you count on this, you who judge those who practice such things and do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is leading you to a change of mind? [b] 5 But according to your hardness and your unchanging heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on a day of wrath and of the revealing of God’s righteous judgment, [c]

6 who will give back to each according to his works: 7 to those who by endurance in good work seek glory and honor and imperishability — everlasting life; 8 but to those of selfish ambition, who disobey the truth and obey unrighteousness — wrath and fury. 9 Affliction and distress on every soul of a person who works out what is evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. [d]

12 For all who sinned without law will also perish without law, and all who sinned in law will be judged through law. 13 For it is not the hearers of law who are righteous before God, but the doers of law who will be set right. [e]

14 For when nations that do not have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having law, are a law to themselves. [f] 15 They show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness with them, and their reasonings among one another accusing or even defending them — 16 on a day when God judges the hidden things of people, according to my good news, through Christ Jesus. [g]

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rest on law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve the things that matter, being instructed out of the law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, having in the law the form of knowledge and of truth —

21 you then who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who proclaim not to steal, do you steal? 22 You who say not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples? [h] 23 You who boast in law, do you dishonor God through your overstepping of the law? [i] 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the nations because of you,” just as it is written. [j]

25 For circumcision is of benefit if you practice law; but if you are one who oversteps law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the rules of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? [k] 27 And the one uncircumcised by nature who completes the law will judge you, who through letter and circumcision oversteps law.

28 For the Jew is not the one in the open, nor is circumcision the one in the open, in flesh; 29 but the Jew is the one in secret, and circumcision is of the heart, in spirit not in letter — whose praise is not from people but from God. [l] †