Romans 2

1 You, therefore [in light of previous truths], have no excuse [are without justification, inexcusable], you who pass judgment [condemn, criticize] on another [a different person, someone else]. For on whatever grounds [basis, reason] you judge [criticize, condemn] the other, you are condemning [judging against, pronouncing guilty] yourself [your own actions, your own heart], because you who pass judgment [act as a judge, criticize] do the same things [practise similar actions, commit similar sins]. word study 2 And we know [are conscious, have spiritual awareness] that God’s [the one true deity] judgment [decision, verdict] against those who do [practise, commit] such things [evil actions, sinful deeds] is based on [according to, in line with] truth [reality, accuracy]. word study 3 So when you, O man [a human being, created in God’s image], pass judgment [condemn, form an opinion] on others, yet do the same things [practise such things, commit similar sins], do you think [reckon, consider] you will escape [flee from, avoid] God’s [the one true deity, Almighty] judgment [decision, verdict]? word study 4 Or do you disregard [treat with contempt, despise] the riches [abundance, wealth] of His kindness [goodness, benevolence], tolerance [forbearance, patience], and patience [longsuffering, endurance], not realizing [being ignorant of, unaware] that God’s [the supreme Creator, Elohim] kindness [goodness, graciousness] leads [guides, directs] you to repentance [a change of heart, turning away from sin]? word study 5 But because of your hard [hard and unyielding] and unrepentant heart, you are storing up [amassing, treasuring] wrath [God’s strong anger, divine judgment] against yourself for the day [a time of reckoning, a period of judgment] of wrath [God’s righteous indignation], when God’s [the one true deity, Almighty] righteous [just, fair] judgment [evaluation, assessment] will be revealed [made known, disclosed]. word study 6 God [the Supreme Judge, Who will render to every man] “will repay [pay back, render, give to every man his right reward] each one [every individual, every person] according to [in line with, matching, following] his [their own, what they deserve] deeds [works, what they have done, their actions].” word study 7 To those who by [patient continuance, steadfast] perseverance [endurance] in doing [well-doing, good works] good [beneficial, virtuous] seek [look for, strive after] glory [praise], honor [esteem, value], and [also, additionally] immortality [incorruptibility, eternal existence], He will give [bestow, grant] eternal [everlasting, age-during] life [spiritual existence, everlasting fellowship]. word study 8 But for those who are [selfishly ambitious, factious] self-seeking and who reject [disobey, refuse to follow] the truth [reality, divine standard] and follow [obey, give in to] wickedness [unrighteousness, sinful behavior], there will be [intense, furious] wrath [anger, indignation] and anger [hostility, punishment]. word study 9 There will be [severe, intense] trouble [tribulation, oppression] and distress [anguish, hardship] for every human being [soul] who does [works] evil [harm], first [initially] for the Jew [person from Judah], then [also] for the Greek [Gentile]; word study 10 but glory [praise], honor [esteem, value], and peace [harmony, prosperity] for everyone [all people] who does [works, labors] good [beneficial, righteous], first [before others, in importance] for the Jew [a person from Judah], then [after that, next] for the Greek [a non-Jewish person, Gentile]. word study 11 For [since, because] God [the one true deity] does not show [practice, have] favoritism [partiality, respect of persons, unfair bias]. word study 12 All who sin [without the law, apart from God’s written command] apart from the law will also perish [be destroyed, lost forever] apart from the law, and all who sin [in the law, under its jurisdiction] under the law will be judged [condemned, evaluated] by the law. word study 13 For it is not the hearers [those who merely listen] of the law [God’s commandments, divine instructions] who are righteous [just, innocent] before God [the Almighty, Creator], but it is the doers [those who obey, put into practice] of the law [Moses’ law, spiritual principles] who will be declared [shown to be, pronounced] righteous [justified, made right]. word study 14 Indeed, when [at any time, whenever] Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations], who do not have [are without, lack] the law [God’s commandments, divine regulations], do by [in accordance with, following] nature [their innate tendencies, natural production] what the law [God’s standards, moral code] requires, they are a law [a standard, a guiding principle] to themselves [their own conscience, inner guide], even though they do not have [possess, know] the law. word study 15 So they show [demonstrate, prove] that the work [task, occupation] of the law [God’s commandments, divine principles] is written [inscribed, engraved] on their hearts [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions], their consciences [moral awareness, inner voice] also bearing witness [testifying, affirming], and their thoughts [reasoning, mental processes] either accusing [condemning, blaming] or defending [justifying, excusing] them [themselves, one another] word study 16 on the day [of reckoning, when God will reveal all] when God [the supreme Judge, Almighty] will judge [examine, evaluate, and condemn] men’s secrets [hidden thoughts, innermost intentions] through [by means of, in the person of] Christ Jesus [the Anointed One, our Lord], as proclaimed [declared, announced] by my gospel [good news, message of salvation]. word study 17 Now you [called a Jew, bearing the name], if you call yourself a Jew [a person from Judah, a descendant of Israel]; if you rely [rest, trust] on the law [Moses’ teachings, God’s commandments] and boast [glory, take pride] in God [the one true deity, Creator of all]; word study 18 if you know [are aware of, understand] His will [desire, intention] and approve [test, examine] of what is superior [excellent, more excellent] because you are instructed [taught, guided] by the law [God’s law, divine instruction]; word study 19 if you are convinced [fully persuaded, have confidence] that you are a guide [leader] for the blind [physically or spiritually], a light [source of spiritual illumination] for those in darkness [a state of spiritual ignorance], word study 20 an instructor [teacher, corrector] of the foolish [ignorant, mindless], a teacher [of babes, infants] of infants [children, the unlearned], because you have [possess, hold] in the law [Moses’ law, God’s laws] the embodiment [form, outward appearance] of knowledge [spiritual understanding, truth] and truth [reality, what is true]— word study 21 you, then [therefore, as a consequence], who teach [instruct, guide] others, do you not teach [guide, instruct] yourself? You who preach [proclaim, herald] against stealing [taking without permission, plundering], do you steal [take by deceit, pilfer]? word study 22 You who forbid [command people not to] adultery [sexual relations with someone to whom they are not married], do you commit [practically carry out] adultery [unfaithfulness to one’s spouse]? You who abhor [detest, have a strong dislike for] idols [false gods, images], do you rob [despoil, plunder] temples [places of worship, sacred spaces]? word study 23 You who [glory in, take pride in] boast in the law [of Moses, God’s commandments], do you [through disobedience, by transgression] dishonor [treat with disrespect, shame] God [the one true deity, Creator] by breaking [violating, disobeying] the law [God’s rules, regulations]? word study 24 As it is written: “God’s [the one true deity, divine authority] name [character, reputation, or authority] is blasphemed [spoken badly of, disrespected, or slandered] among [in the midst of, or surrounded by] the Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations] because of [through, or on account of] you [as a representative of God’s people].” word study 25 Circumcision [a Jewish rite of cutting] has value [is profitable, benefits] if you observe [keep, practice] the law [Moses’ law, God’s commandments], but if you break [transgress, disobey] the law, your circumcision [state of being circumcised] has become [is made] uncircumcision [a state of not being circumcised]. word study 26 If a man who is not circumcised [uncircumcision, lacking the Jewish rite] keeps the requirements [ordinances, righteous acts] of the law [God’s commandments, divine regulations], will not his uncircumcision [natural state, without the cut] be regarded [counted, reckoned] as circumcision [the Jewish sign]? word study 27 The one who is physically uncircumcised [by nature, without Jewish rites] yet keeps the law [fulfills the commandments, obeys God’s will] will condemn you who, even though you have the written code [Scriptures, letter of the law] and circumcision [the Jewish rite, outward sign], are a lawbreaker [transgressor, one who violates God’s law]. word study 28 A man is not a Jew [outwardly, in appearance] because he is one [in name, by birth] outwardly, nor is circumcision [a physical sign, an outward ritual] only outward [in the flesh, physical] and physical [of the body, fleshly]. word study 29 No, a man is a Jew [one inwardly, a true descendant of Judah] because he is one inwardly, and circumcision [a cutting away of sin, a spiritual transformation] is a matter of the heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions], by the Spirit [the divine breath, the vital principle], not by the written code [the letter of the law]. Such a man’s praise [honor, approval, commendation] does not come from men [human beings, mortal people], but from God [the supreme Creator, the one true deity]. word study