Rom 2 | HCSB | STEP | Therefore , any one of you who judges is without excuse . For when you judge another , you condemn yourself , since you, the judge , do the same things.

Romans 2

God’s Righteous Judgment

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

12 All those who sinned without the law ^w will also perish without the law, and all those who sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For the hearers of the law ^x are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous. ^{▼▼Or will be justified or acquitted} 14 So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively ^z do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law ^{▼▼The code of conduct required by the law} is written on their hearts. ^ab Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them ^{▼▼Internal debate, either in a person or among the pagan moralists} 16 on the day when God judges ^ad what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus. ^ae

Jewish Violation of the Law

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

Circumcision of the Heart

25 For circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ^ap 26 Therefore if an uncircumcised ^aq man keeps the law’s requirements, ^ar will his uncircumcision not be counted as circumcision? 27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who fulfills the law, will judge you ^as who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, ^at and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. 29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, ^au and circumcision is of the heart – by the Spirit, not the letter. ^{▼▼Or heart – spiritually, not literally
,} ^aw That man’s praise ^{▼▼In Hb, the words Jew, Judah, and praise are related.} is not from men but from God. ^ay