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For this reason, you are without terutz (excuse) for yourself (before an angry G-d), you, sir, each one of you who passes judgment. For in that you pass judgment on the other, you condemn yourself; for you practice the very things on which you pass judgment.

And we have da’as that the judgment of Hashem HaShofet (Ro 1:32) against those who practice such things is in accordance with HaEmes Hashem (Ro 1:25).

You, sir, you who pass judgment on those who practice such things and yet do the same yourself, do you suppose then that you will escape the Mishpat Hashem?

Or do you think lightly of the wealth of his nedivut (generosity) and of his chesed and of his being ERECH APAYIM ("slow of anger, forbearing" SHEMOT 34:6) and of his zitzfleisch (patience), disregarding the fact that the Chesed Hashem (the kindness of G-d) is to lead you to teshuva (repentance)?

As a result of your KESHI (stubbornness, hardness, DEVARIM 9:27) and your levavot without teshuva, you are storing up for yourself Charon Af Hashem (the burning anger of G-d) in the Yom Af (the Day of Wrath TEHILLIM 110:5, i.e., the Yom HaDin, the Day of Judgment), when will be revealed the Mishpat HaTzedek of Hashem,

Who will render L’ISH K’MA’A’SEI HU (to each according to his works" TEHILLIM 62:13 [12]).

To those who, by zitzfleisch (patience), persevere in doing ma’asim tovim, seek for kavod (glory) and honor and incorruptibility (TEHILLIM 16:10), He will give Chayyei Olam (Eternal Life).

But to those who are selfseeking and who have no mishma’at (obedience) to HaEmes Hashem (Ro 1:25), but instead have mishma’at to resha, there will be Charon Af Hashem and fury.

There will be affliction and distress on every living neshamah who brings about what is rah (evil), Yehudi above all and Yevani (Greek) as well.

10 But tiferet and kavod and shalom to everyone who brings about what is tov (good), Yehudi above all and Yevani as well.

11 For ki ein masso panim im Hashem (there is no partiality with Hashem).

12 For as many as have committed averos and sinned lacking the Torah shall also perish lacking the Torah; and as many as have committed averos (sin) under the Torah shall be condemned under the Torah.

13 For it is not the Shomei HaTorah (hearers of the Law of Moshe Rabbeinu) who are the tzaddikim who are accounted to be YITZDAK IM HASHEM ("justified with G-d" IYOV 25:4). It is the Shomrei HaTorah (the keepers of the Torah) who will be counted to be YITZDAK IM HASHEM.

14 For when Goyim, who have not the Torah, do by nature what the Torah requires, they not having the Torah are the torah for themselves,

15 In that they demonstrate the Torah at work [YIRMEYAH 31:33], the Torah written in their levavot, their matzpun (conscience) also bearing witness, while their thoughts bring accusation or even make defense among themselves,

16 In the Yom [HaDin (Day of Judgment)] when, according to my Besuras HaGeulah, Hashem, through Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, is to judge the secrets of kol Bnei Adam (all men).

17 But if you are called by the name Yehudi (Jew) and rely on the Torah and boast in Hashem,

18 And have da’as of His will and approve the things that matter, being instructed from the Torah

19 And being confident that you are a moreh derech (guide) of the ivrim (blind ones), an ohr for those in choshech,

20 A rabbinic moreh (teacher) of the foolish, a melammed (instructor) of the young, having the embodiment of da’as (knowledge) and Emes (Ro 1:25) in the Torah...

21 You, then, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach LO TIGNOV ("Do not steal!" SHEMOT 20:15), do you steal?

22 You who say, LO TINAF ("Do not commit adultery!" SHEMOT 20:14), do you commit adultery? You who abhor elilim (idols), do you rob pagan temples?

23 You who boast in the Torah, through sur min haTorah (deviating from the Torah), you commit Chillul Hashem.

24 As it is written, Among the Goyim KOL HAYOM HASHEM HAELOHIM MINNO’ATZ ("All the day long the Name of G-d is being blasphemed" (YESHAYAH 52:5) because of you.

25 For the bris milah (circumcision) is of benefit if you stand in mishma’at (obedience) to the Torah. But if you are guilty, if you are sur min haTorah (deviating from the Torah) (2:23), your bris milah has become uncircumcision.

26 If then the ben Adam without bris milah is shomer fulfilling the just requirements of the Torah (1:32), will not his uncircumcision be counted as "bris milah "?

27 And the naturally uncircumcised ben Adam who has mishma’at (obedience) to the Torah will arise as a judgment on you. You! The very one who through chumra (strict adherence to the letter of the law, legalism) and circumcision (i.e., "uncircumcision "—2:25) are the transgressor of Torah!

28 For the true Yehudi (Jew) is not the one [humanly] perceived as such, nor true bris milah that which is performed visibly in the flesh;

29 The true Yehudi is so in [Hashem’s] hidden way, and true bris milah is of the lev, in the [hitkhadshut (renewal) of the (Yn 3:3)] Ruach Hakodesh, not in chumra (legalism, strict adherence to the letter of the law). The one so marked has hoda’ah (praise "Yehudah, Hodah, Praise"...see BERESHIS 29:35) that comes not from Bnei Adam but from Hashem [T.N.Jer 31:31-34].

God’s Righteous Judgment

You, therefore, have no excuse,(A) you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.(B) Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches(C) of his kindness,(D) forbearance(E) and patience,(F) not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?(G)

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath(H), when his righteous judgment(I) will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a](J) To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor(K) and immortality,(L) he will give eternal life.(M) But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil,(N) there will be wrath and anger.(O) There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil:(P) first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;(Q) 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.(R) 11 For God does not show favoritism.(S)

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law(T) will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey(U) the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law,(V) they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets(W) through Jesus Christ,(X) as my gospel(Y) declares.

The Jews and the Law

17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;(Z) 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 who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, 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?(AA) 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?(AB) 23 You who boast in the law,(AC) do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”[b](AD)

25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law,(AE) but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.(AF) 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements,(AG) will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?(AH) 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you(AI) who, even though you have the[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly,(AJ) nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.(AK) 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart,(AL) by the Spirit,(AM) not by the written code.(AN) Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.(AO)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:6 Psalm 62:12; Prov. 24:12
  2. Romans 2:24 Isaiah 52:5 (see Septuagint); Ezek. 36:20,22
  3. Romans 2:27 Or who, by means of a