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Romans 2:9-29
New King James Version

9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew (A)first and also of the [a]Greek; 10 (B)but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For (C)there is no partiality with God.

12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for (D)not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the (E)work of the law written in their hearts, their (F)conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 (G)in the day when God will judge the secrets of men (H)by Jesus Christ, (I)according to my gospel.

The Jews Guilty as the Gentiles

17 [b]Indeed (J)you are called a Jew, and (K)rest[c] on the law, (L)and make your boast in God, 18 and (M)know His will, and (N)approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and (O)are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, (P)having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 21 (Q)You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, (R)do you rob temples? 23 You who (S)make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For (T)“the name of God is (U)blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.

Circumcision of No Avail

25 (V)For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, (W)if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, (X)judge you who, even with your [d]written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28 For (Y)he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew (Z)who is one inwardly; and (AA)circumcision is that of the heart, (AB)in the Spirit, not in the letter; (AC)whose [e]praise is not from men but from God.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:9 Gentile
  2. Romans 2:17 NU But if
  3. Romans 2:17 rely
  4. Romans 2:27 Lit. letter
  5. Romans 2:29 A play on words—Jew is literally praise.
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Romans 2:9-29
New American Standard Bible

9 There will be (A)tribulation and distress [a]for every soul of mankind who does evil, [b]for the Jew (B)first and also [c]for the Greek, 10 but (C)glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does what is good, to the Jew (D)first and also to the Greek. 11 For (E)there is no partiality with God.

12 For all who have sinned [d](F)without the Law will also perish [e]without the Law, and all who have sinned [f]under the Law will be judged [g]by the Law; 13 for it is (G)not the hearers [h]of the Law who are [i]righteous before God, but the doers [j]of the Law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have [k]the Law [l](H)instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having [m]the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show (I)the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, (J)according to my gospel, (K)God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.

The Jews under the Law

17 But if you call yourself a [n]Jew and (L)rely [o]upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and [p](M)distinguish the things that matter, being instructed from the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to people who are blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 a [q]corrector of the foolish, a teacher of [r]the immature, possessing in the Law (N)the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth— 21 you, therefore, (O)who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who [s]preach that one is not to steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one is not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who loathe idols, do you (P)rob temples? 23 You who (Q)boast [t]in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? 24 For “(R)the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles (S)because of you,” just as it is written.

25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you (T)practice [u]the Law; but if you are a violator [v]of the Law, (U)your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision. 26 (V)So if (W)the [w]uncircumcised man (X)keeps the requirements of the Law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision? 27 And (Y)he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not (Z)judge you who [x]though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a violator [y]of the Law? 28 For (AA)he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But (AB)he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and (AC)circumcision is of the heart, by the (AD)Spirit, not by the letter; (AE)and his praise is not from people, but from God.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:9 Lit upon
  2. Romans 2:9 Lit of the
  3. Romans 2:9 Lit of the
  4. Romans 2:12 Or without law
  5. Romans 2:12 Or without law
  6. Romans 2:12 Or under law
  7. Romans 2:12 Or by law
  8. Romans 2:13 Or of law
  9. Romans 2:13 Or just
  10. Romans 2:13 Or of law
  11. Romans 2:14 Or law
  12. Romans 2:14 Lit by nature
  13. Romans 2:14 Or law
  14. Romans 2:17 Or Judean
  15. Romans 2:17 Or upon law
  16. Romans 2:18 Or approve
  17. Romans 2:20 Or instructor
  18. Romans 2:20 Lit infants
  19. Romans 2:21 Or proclaim
  20. Romans 2:23 Or in law
  21. Romans 2:25 Or law
  22. Romans 2:25 Or of law
  23. Romans 2:26 Lit uncircumcision
  24. Romans 2:27 Lit through the letter
  25. Romans 2:27 Or of law
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Romans 2:9-29
Amplified Bible

9 There will be tribulation and anguish [torturing confinement] for every human soul who does [or permits] evil, to the Jew first and also to the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and inner peace [will be given] to everyone who habitually does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality [no arbitrary favoritism; with Him one person is not more important than another].(A)

12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without [regard to] the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged and condemned by the Law. 13 For it is not those who merely hear the Law [as it is read aloud] who are just or righteous before God, but it is those who [actually] obey the Law who will be [a]justified [pronounced free of the guilt of sin and declared acceptable to Him]. 14 When Gentiles, who do not have the Law [since it was given only to Jews], do [b]instinctively the things the Law requires [guided only by their conscience], they are a law to themselves, though they do not have the Law. 15 They show that the [c]essential requirements of the Law are written in their hearts; and their conscience [their sense of right and wrong, their moral choices] bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or perhaps defending them 16 on that day when, [d]as my gospel proclaims, God will judge the secrets [all the hidden thoughts and concealed sins] of men through Christ Jesus.(B)

The Jew Is Condemned by the Law

17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely on the Law [for your salvation] and boast in [your special relationship to] God, 18 and [if you claim to] know His will and [e]approve the things that are [f]essential or have a sense of what is excellent, based on your instruction from the Law, 19 and [if you] are confident that you are a [qualified] guide to the blind [those untaught in theology], a light to those who are in darkness, 20 and [that you are] [g]a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the [spiritually] [h]childish, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth— 21 well then, you who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal [in ways that are discrete, but just as sinful]? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, [i]do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob [pagan] temples [of valuable idols and offerings]?(C) 23 You who boast in the Law, do you [repeatedly] dishonor God by [j]breaking the Law? 24 For, “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written [in Scripture].(D)

25 Circumcision [the sign of the covenant of Abraham] is indeed of value if you practice the Law; but if you habitually break the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision [it is meaningless in God’s sight]. 26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded [by God] as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps [the spirit of] the Law will judge you who, [k]even though you have the written code and circumcision, break the Law. 28 For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and [true] circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by [the fulfillment of] the letter [of the Law]. His praise is not from men, but from God.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:13 Because of one’s personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, God graciously credits His righteousness to the believer. Justification denotes a legal standing with God as designated only by God. God declares a believer to be acquitted or innocent, then designates the believer to be brought into right standing before Him.
  2. Romans 2:14 Lit by nature.
  3. Romans 2:15 Lit work of the Law.
  4. Romans 2:16 Lit according to my gospel.
  5. Romans 2:18 Or discerningly distinguish between the things which differ.
  6. Romans 2:18 Or excellent.
  7. Romans 2:20 Or an instructor.
  8. Romans 2:20 Lit infants.
  9. Romans 2:22 In Judaism at that time, one of the leading schools of thought (that of Hillel) taught that a man could divorce his wife for any reason, such as cooking a bad meal. Paul may have in mind men who use a flimsy excuse to divorce their wives, with the real intent of marrying another woman. In God’s eyes, this is an act of adultery.
  10. Romans 2:23 The Pharisees were distorting and breaking God’s law by giving their own interpretations priority over the plain meaning of the Scriptures.
  11. Romans 2:27 Lit through the letter.
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Romans 2:9-29
New International Version

9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil:(A) first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;(B) 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.(C) 11 For God does not show favoritism.(D)

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law(E) will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey(F) the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law,(G) they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets(H) through Jesus Christ,(I) as my gospel(J) declares.

The Jews and the Law

17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;(K) 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?(L) 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?(M) 23 You who boast in the law,(N) do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”[a](O)

25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law,(P) but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.(Q) 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements,(R) will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?(S) 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you(T) who, even though you have the[b] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly,(U) nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.(V) 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart,(W) by the Spirit,(X) not by the written code.(Y) Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.(Z)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:24 Isaiah 52:5 (see Septuagint); Ezek. 36:20,22
  2. Romans 2:27 Or who, by means of a
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Romans 2:9-29
King James Version

9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

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

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

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