1 T herefore 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.

So you can say nothing because you are guilty when you say someone else is guilty. While you say someone is guilty, you are doing the same things he does.

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

We know that God will say those who do such things are guilty.

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

Do you think God will punish others for doing wrong and let you keep sinning?

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

Do you forget about His loving-kindness to you? Do you forget how long He is waiting for you? You know that God is kind. He is trying to get you to be sorry for your sins and turn from them.

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

Because you are not sorry for your sins and will not turn from them, you will be punished even more on the day of God’s anger. God will be right in saying you are guilty.

6 W ho will render to every man according to his deeds:

He will give to every man what he should get for the things he has done.

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

Those who keep on doing good and are looking for His greatness and honor will receive life that lasts forever.

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

Those who love only themselves and do not obey the truth, but do what is wrong, will be punished by God. His anger will be on them.

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

Every Jew and every person who is not a Jew who sins will suffer and have great sorrow.

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

But God will give His greatness and honor and peace to all those who obey the truth. Both Jews and those who are not Jews will receive this.

11 F or there is no respect of persons with God.

God does not show favor to one man more than to another.

12 F or 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;

Those who have sinned without having the Law will be lost without the Law being used. Those who have the Law and have sinned will be judged by the Law.

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

Just to hear the Law does not make a man right with God. The man right with God is the one who obeys the Law.

14 F or 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:

The people who are not Jews do not have the Law. When they do what the Law tells them to do, even if they do not have the Law, it shows they know what they should do.

15 W hich 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;)

They show that what the Law wants them to do is written in their hearts. Their own hearts tell them if they are guilty.

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

There will be a day when God will judge because He knows the secret thoughts of men. He will do this through Jesus Christ. This is part of the Good News I preach.

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

You are a Jew and think you are safe because of the Law. You tell others about how you know God.

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

You know what He wants you to do. You understand how the Law works. You know right from wrong.

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

You think you can lead a blind man. You think you can give light to those in darkness.

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

You think you can teach foolish people and children about God. You have in the Law the plan of truth and wisdom.

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

You teach others. Why do you not teach yourselves? You tell others not to steal. Do you steal?

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

You say that no one should do sex sins. Do you do sex sins? You hate false gods. Do you rob the houses where they are kept?

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

You are proud of the Law. Do you take honor away from God when you do not obey the Law?

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

The Holy Writings say, “God’s name is hated by the people who are not Jews because of you.”

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

Going through the religious act of becoming a Jew is worth something if you obey the Law. If you do not obey the Law, it is worth nothing to you.

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

If a person who is not a Jew and has not gone through the act of becoming a Jew, obeys the Law, God will think of him as a Jew.

27 A nd shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

You Jews have the Law but do not obey it. You have gone through the religious act also. At the same time those who are not Jews obey the Law even if they have not gone through the religious act of becoming a Jew. In this way, these people show you are guilty.

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

A man is not a Jew just because he goes through the religious act of becoming a Jew.

29 B ut 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.

The true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. The religious act of becoming a Jew must be done in the heart. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Law does not do that kind of work. The true Jew gets his thanks from God, not from men.