18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness[18]; 19because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it to them. 20For, from the creation of the world, his invisible things are clearly seen, being perceived by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are[20] without excuse. 21Because, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, nor gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools; 23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24Wherefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, to dishonor their bodies among themselves; 25who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26For this cause God gave them up to vile passions; for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature; 27and in like manner the men also, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error which was meet.
28And as they did not choose to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not becoming; 29being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30slanderers, haters of God, overbearing, proud, boasters, devisers of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful; 32who, knowing the judgment of God, that they who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but have pleasure in those who do them.
II. Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2Now we know that the judgment of God is according to truth, upon those who commit such things. 3And reckonest thou this, O man, that judgest those who do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God is leading thee to repentance; 5and after thy hardness and impenitent heart, art treasuring up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6who will render to every man according to his deeds; 7to those who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8but to those who are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9tribulation and distress, upon every soul of man that works evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; 10but glory, and honor, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
11For there is no respect of persons with God. 12For as many as sinned without law shall also perish without law; and as many as sinned with law shall be judged by law; 13(for not the hearers of law are just before God, but the doers of law shall be justified: 14for when Gentiles, who have no law, do by nature the things required by law, these, having no law, are a law to themselves; 15who show the work of law written in their hearts, their conscience witnessing therewith, and their thoughts alternately accusing, or also excusing[15];) 16in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
17But if thou art called a Jew, and restest upon law, and makest thy boast in 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 those who are in darkness, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law; 21thou then, that teachest another, dost thou not teach 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[22]? 23Thou that makest thy boast in law, through the transgression of the law dishonorest thou God? 24For, the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written.
25For circumcision indeed profits, if thou keep the law; but if thou art a transgressor of law, thy circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26If then the uncircumcision keep the requirements of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27And shall not the uncircumcision that is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of law? 28For he is not a Jew, who is one outwardly; nor is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh. 29But he is a Jew, who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
III. What then is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2Much every way; first, indeed, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God. 3For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make void the faithfulness of God? 4Far be it! Yea, let God be true and every man a liar; as it is written:
That thou mayest be justified in thy words,