Romans 2:2–16

²We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. ³Do you really think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? ⁴Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, ^arestraint, ^band patience, ^cnot recognizing ^dthat God’s kindness ^eis intended to lead you to repentance? ⁵But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath ^ffor yourself in the day of wrath, ^gwhen God’s righteous judgment is revealed. ⁶He will repay each one according to his works: ^hi7eternal life ^jto those who by persistence in doing good ^kseek glory, honor, ^land immortality; ^m8but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking ⁿand disobey the truth ^obut are obeying unrighteousness; ⁹affliction and distress ^pfor every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek; ^q10but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. ¹¹There is no favoritism with God. ^r

¹²All those who sinned without the law ^swill also perish without the law, and all those who sinned under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³For the hearers of the law ^tare not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous. ^u14So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively ^vdo 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 ^wis written on their hearts. ^xTheir consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them ^y16on the day when God judges ^zwhat people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus. ^a