Romans 2:14-27
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 2
14For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.
17But if you call yourself a Jew and rely upon the Law and boast in God,
18and know His will and distinguish the things that matter, being instructed from the Law,
19and are confident that you yourself are a guide to people who are blind, a light to those in darkness,
20a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, possessing in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth—
21you, therefore, who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one is not to steal, do you steal?
22You who say that one is not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who loathe idols, do you rob temples?
23You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?
24For 'THE NAME OF God IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,' just as it is written.
25For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a violator of the Law, your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision.
26So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision?
27And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a violator of the Law?
King James Version
15Which 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;)
16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
17Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
18And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
19And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
21Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 2
14So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them 16on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
17Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law, and boast in God,
18and know his will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law,
19and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness,
20an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth in the law—
21you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, "You must not steal"—do you steal?
22You who say, "You must not commit adultery"—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples?
23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
24For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.
25Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26So if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
27A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision.
New Living Translation
Chapter 2
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 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. 16And this is the message I proclaim — that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.
17You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him.
18You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.
19You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness.
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.
21Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal?
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 are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.
24No wonder the Scriptures say, 'The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.'
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.
26And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people?
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.
English Standard Version
Chapter 2
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. 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 16on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
17But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
18and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;
19and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth —
21you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
22You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
24For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
25For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
26So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
New International Version
Chapter 2
14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15They 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.) 16This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
17Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;
18if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;
19if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark,
20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?
22You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
24As it is written: "God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
25Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.
26So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?
27The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
New King James Version
Chapter 2
14for 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, 15who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
17Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God,
18and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
19and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.
21You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
22You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?
24For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
25For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
27And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?
