English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

1You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.

2We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.

2And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things.

3Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

3Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?

4Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

4Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

5But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

5But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

6He will render to each one according to his works:

6He will judge everyone according to what they have done.

7to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

7He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.

8but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

8But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.

9There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,

9There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.

10but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.

10But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.

11For God shows no partiality.

11For God does not show favoritism.

12For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

12When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it.

13For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

13For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.

14For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

14Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.

15They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

15They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.

16on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

16And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. The Jews and the Law

17But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God

17You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him.

18and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;

18You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.

19and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

19You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness.

20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—

20You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.

21you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?

21Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal?

22You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

22You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples?

23You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.

23You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.

24For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

24No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”

25For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.

25The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.

26So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

26And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people?

27Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.

27In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.

28For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.

28For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.

29But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

29No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.