The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

(Psalm 75:1–10)

Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man—everyone who is judging—for in that in which you judge the other, yourself you condemn, for the same things you practice who are judging,

and we have known that the judgment of God is according to truth, on those practicing such things.

And do you think this, O man, who are judging those who such things are practicing, and are doing them, that you will escape the judgment of God?

Or the riches of His goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, do you despise, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to conversion?

But according to your hardness and impenitent heart, you treasure up wrath to yourself in [the] day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

who will render to each according to his works;

to those, indeed, who in continuance of a good work, seek glory, and honor, and incorruptibility—continuous life;

and to those contentious, and disobedient, indeed, to the truth, and obeying the unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,

tribulation and distress, on every soul of man that is working the evil, both of Jew first, and of Greek;

and glory, and honor, and peace, to everyone who is working the good, both to Jew first, and to Greek.

For there is no favor by appearance with God,

for as many as sinned without law, will also perish without law, and as many as sinned in law, through law will be judged,

for not the hearers of the Law [are] righteous before God, but the doers of the Law will be declared righteous.

For when nations that have no law, by nature may do the things of the Law, these not having a law—to themselves are a law,

who show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also witnessing with them, and between one another the thoughts accusing or else defending,

in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my good news, through Jesus Christ.

The Jews and the Law

Behold, you are named a Jew, and rest on the Law, and boast in God,

and know the will, and approve the distinctions, being instructed out of the Law,

and have confidence that you yourself are a leader of blind ones, a light of those in darkness,

a corrector of foolish ones, a teacher of babies, having the form of the knowledge and of the truth in the Law.

You, then, who are teaching another, do you not teach yourself?

You who are preaching not to steal, do you steal? You who are saying not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who are abhorring the idols, do you rob temples?

You who boast in the Law, through the transgression of the Law do you dishonor God?

For evil is spoken of the Name of God among the nations because of you, according as it has been written.

For circumcision, indeed, profits, if you may practice law, but if you may be a transgressor of law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

If, therefore, the uncircumcision may keep the righteousness of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision?

And the uncircumcision, by nature, fulfilling the Law, will judge you who, through letter and circumcision, [are] a transgressor of law.

For he is not a Jew who is [so] outwardly, neither [is] circumcision that which is outward in flesh;

but a Jew [is] he who is [so] inwardly, and circumcision [is] of the heart, in spirit, not in letter, of which the praise is not of men, but of God.

(Psalm 75:1–10)

Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.

We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.

Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God,

who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:”(a)

to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life;

but to those who are self-seeking and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath, indignation,

oppression, and anguish on every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

For there is no partiality with God.

For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified

(for when Gentiles who don’t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves,

in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)

in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ.

The Jews and the Law

Indeed you bear the name of a Jew, rest on the law, glory in God,

know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,

and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth.

You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal?

You who say a man shouldn’t commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

You who glory in the law, do you dishonor God by disobeying the law?

For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” (b) just as it is written.

For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

If therefore the uncircumcised keep the ordinances of the law, won’t his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision?

Won’t those who are physically uncircumcised, but fulfill the law, judge you, who with the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law?

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;

but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

Footnotes

(a)2:6 ℘ Psalms 62:12; Proverbs 24:12

(b)2:24 ℘ Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:22