God's Righteous Judgment

(Genesis 4:1-7; Jude 1:3-16)

1Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, every one who judgest, for in that in which thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth upon those who do such things. 3And thinkest thou this, O man, who judgest those that do such things, and practisest them [thyself], 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 leads thee to repentance? 5but, according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up to thyself wrath, in [the] day of wrath and revelation of [the] righteous judgment of God, 6who shall render to each according to his works: 7to them who, in patient continuance of good works, seek for glory and honour and incorruptibility, life eternal. 8But to those that are contentious, and are disobedient to the truth, but obey unrighteousness, [there shall be] wrath and indignation, 9tribulation and distress, on every soul of man that works evil, both of Jew first, and of Greek; 10but glory and honour and peace to every one that works good, both to Jew first and to Greek: 11for there is no acceptance of persons with God.

12For as many as have sinned without law shall perish also without law; and as many as have sinned under law shall be judged by law, 13(for not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14For when [those of the] nations, which have no law, practise by nature the things of the law, these, having no law, are a law to themselves; 15who shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts accusing or else excusing themselves between themselves;) 16in [the] day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my glad tidings, by Jesus Christ.

The Jews and the Law

17But if thou art named a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast in God, 18and knowest the will, and discerningly approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19and hast confidence that thou thyself art a leader 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 truth in the law: 21thou then that teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? thou that preachest not to steal, dost thou steal? 22thou that sayest [man should] not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23thou who boastest in law, dost thou by transgression of the law dishonour God? 24For the name of God is blasphemed on your account among the nations, according as it is written.

25For circumcision indeed profits if thou keep [the] law; but if thou be a law-transgressor, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. 26If therefore the uncircumcision keep the requirements of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision, 27and uncircumcision by nature, fulfilling the law, judge thee, who, with letter and circumcision, [art] a law-transgressor? 28For he is not a Jew who [is] one outwardly, neither that circumcision which is outward in flesh; 29but he [is] a Jew [who is so] inwardly; and circumcision, of the heart, in spirit, not in letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.