Romans 2 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

So you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else. Because when you judge another person, you're condemning yourself — you do the exact same things.

Now we know that God's judgment against people who do these things is based on reality.

So when you—a person who judges others for doing these things but does them yourself—do you really think you'll escape God's judgment?

Or are you treating his incredible kindness, patience, and restraint like they don't matter? Don't you realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to rethink everything?

But because you're stubborn and refuse to change direction, you're storing up anger against yourself for the day of anger — the day when God's just judgment will be revealed.

God will give to each person according to what they've done.

To those who keep doing what's good and pursue glory, honor, and a life that never ends — he'll give limitless life.

But for those who are driven by selfish ambition, who reject the truth and follow what's wrong — there will be fury and anger.

There will be trouble and distress for every person who does what's wrong — for the Jewish person first, and also for the non-Jewish person.

But glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what's good — for the Jewish person first, and also for the non-Jewish person.

Because God doesn't play favorites.

Everyone who has done wrong without having the law will also be lost without the law, and everyone who has done wrong while having the law will be judged by the law.

Because it's not those who simply hear the law who are right with God — it's those who actually do what the law says who will be declared right.

When non-Jewish people who don't have the law naturally do what the law requires, they are a law for themselves, even though they don't have the law.

They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts. Their conscience backs this up, and their own thoughts either accuse them or defend them.

This will be clear on the day when God judges everyone's hidden life through Jesus the One — according to the good news I share.

Now, you call yourself a Jewish person and rely on the law and boast about your relationship with God.

You know what he wants. You can evaluate what really matters because you've been taught from the law.

You're convinced you're a guide for blind people, a light for those in the dark,

an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of beginners, because you have the law — the embodiment of knowledge and truth.

So you teach others — but do you teach yourself? You preach against stealing — but do you steal?

You say people shouldn't commit adultery — but do you commit adultery? You detest idols — but do you rob temples?

You brag about having the law — but do you dishonor God by breaking it?

As it's written: "God's name is dragged through the mud among non-Jewish people because of you."

Circumcision has value if you follow the law. But if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

So if an uncircumcised person lives by what the law requires, won't their uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?

And the person who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you — you who have the written code and circumcision but still break the law.

A person is not a Jewish person just because of outward appearance, and real circumcision isn't something visible in the body.

No — a person is a Jewish person on the inside, and real circumcision is of the heart — by the Breath, not by the written code. That person's approval comes from God, not from people.