BSB ROM Chapter 2

God’s Righteous Judgment

(Psalm 75:1–10)

2 You, therefore, have no excuse, [you] who pass judgment [on another]. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because [you who] pass judgment do the same things. 2 And we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 [So when] [you], O man, pass judgment on [others], yet do the same things do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

5 But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for [the] day of wrath, [when] God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 [God] “will repay each one according to his deeds.”[fn] 7 To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, [He will give] eternal life. 8 But for those who [are] self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, [there will be] wrath and anger.

9 [There will be] trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then for the Greek. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under [the] law will be judged by [the] law. 13 For [it is] not the hearers of [the] law [who are] righteous before God, but [it is] the doers of [the] law [who] will be declared righteous.

14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have [the] law, do by nature what the law [requires], they are a law to themselves, [even though] they do not have [the] law. 15 [So] they show [that] the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, [and] their thoughts either accusing or defending [them] 16 on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus,[fn] as proclaimed by my gospel.

The Jews and the Law

17 Now you, if you call [yourself] a Jew; [if you] rely on [the] law and boast in God; 18 [if you] know [His] will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 [if you] are convinced [that] you are a guide for [the] blind, a light for those in darkness, 20 an instructor of [the] foolish, a teacher of infants, [because] you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—21 {you,} then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in [the] law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”[fn]

25 Circumcision has value if you observe [the] law, but if you break [the] law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 If a man who is not circumcised keeps the requirements of the law, {will} not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 The [one who is] physically uncircumcised [yet] keeps the law will condemn you who, [even though you have] [the] written code and circumcision, [are] a lawbreaker

28 A [man] is not a Jew [ because he is one ] outwardly, nor [is] circumcision [ only ] outward [and] physical. 29 No, a man [is] a Jew [ because he is one ] inwardly, and circumcision [is a matter] of the heart, by [the] Spirit, not by the written code. [Such a man’s] praise [does] not [come] from men, but from God.