Romans 2

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

1So you have no excuse when you judge someone else. When you say another person is wrong, you say the same about yourself. You do the very same things you blame them for.

2But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

2We know that God judges people who do such things. What God says about them is true and fair.

3And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

3You judge others, but you do the same things. Do you think you will get away from God's judging?

4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

4God is very kind. He puts up with you and waits. Maybe you act like that does not matter. His kindness is meant to lead you to turn back to him.

5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

5But your heart is hard, and you will not turn from wrong. So you are storing up trouble for yourself. A day is coming when God shows his anger and judges rightly.

6Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

6God will give back to each person what their deeds have earned.

7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

7Some people keep on doing good and do not give up. They want glory and honor and life that never ends. God will give them life forever.

8But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

8Others only think of themselves. They say no to the truth and choose what is wrong. God's anger will come to them.

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

9Trouble and pain will come to every person who does evil. That means Jews first, and Gentiles too. Gentiles are people who are not Jewish.

NoteThe King James Bible says "Gentile." It means any person who is not Jewish.

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

10But glory and honor and peace come to every person who does good. That means Jews first, and Gentiles too.

11For there is no respect of persons with God.

11God treats everyone the same way. He has no favorites.

12For 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;

12Some people sin without ever having God's law. They will still be lost, even without that law. Others sin while they do have the law. The law will judge them.

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

13Just hearing the law does not make you right with God. The ones who do what it says are the ones counted right.

14For 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:

14Gentiles do not have God's law. But sometimes they do what the law says all on their own. Then they are like a law to themselves, even without having it.

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;)

15They show that the law's work is written on their hearts. Their sense of right and wrong says so too. Their thoughts sometimes blame them and sometimes speak up for them.

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

16All this will come out on the day God judges. He will judge what people hide inside, through Jesus Christ. That is the good news I tell.

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

17Now think about you. You call yourself a Jew. You lean on God's law. You are proud that God is your God.

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

18You know what God wants you to do. The law has taught you. So you can tell what is best.

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

19You are sure you can lead people who cannot see. You think you are a light for people in the dark.

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

20You think you can teach foolish people and little children. You have knowledge and truth in the law.

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

21You teach other people. So do you not teach yourself? You tell people not to steal. Do you steal?

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

22You say no one should be unfaithful in marriage. Do you do it yourself? You hate idols, which are statues people worship. Do you rob temples?

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

23You are proud of God's law. But you break it. Does that not bring shame on God?

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

24The Scriptures say that people who are not Jews speak badly about God's name. They do it because of the way you act.

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

25Circumcision is a small cut on the body. It showed that a Jewish man belonged to God's people. That sign is worth something if you obey the law. But if you break the law, the sign counts for nothing.

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

26Some men do not have that sign. If they do what the law says is right, God counts them as if they did.

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?

27A man may not have that sign but still obey the law. He shows that you are in the wrong. You have the written law and the sign, but you break the law.

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

28Being a real Jew is not only about the outside. The sign on the body is not the whole thing.

29But 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.

29A real Jew is one on the inside. Real circumcision happens in the heart, by God's Spirit, not by written rules. That person is praised by God, not by people.