CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Romans 2 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/romans/2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/romans/2-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Romans 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../romans/1.htm" title="Romans 1">◄</a> Romans 2 <a href="../romans/3.htm" title="Romans 3">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">God's Judgment Is Fair</h3><p class="par"><span class="v45_2_1"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.1" class="v45_2_1">1</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Rom.2.1!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Some of you accuse others of doing wrong. But there is no excuse for what you do. When you judge others, you condemn yourselves, because you are guilty of doing the very same things. </span><span class="v45_2_2"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.2" class="v45_2_2">2</span>We know that God is right to judge everyone who behaves in this way. </span><span class="v45_2_3"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.3" class="v45_2_3">3</span>Do you really think God won't punish you, when you behave exactly like the people you accuse? </span><span class="v45_2_4"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.4" class="v45_2_4">4</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Rom.2.4!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> You surely don't think much of God's wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don't you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v45_2_5"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.5" class="v45_2_5">5</span>But you are stubborn and refuse to turn to God. So you are making things even worse for yourselves on that day when he will show how angry he is and will judge the world with fairness. </span><span class="v45_2_6"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.6" class="v45_2_6">6</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Rom.2.6!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> God will reward each of us for what we have done. </span><span class="v45_2_7"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.7" class="v45_2_7">7</span>He will give eternal life to everyone who has patiently done what is good in the hope of receiving glory, honor, and life that lasts forever. </span><span class="v45_2_8"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.8" class="v45_2_8">8</span>But he will show how angry and furious he can be with every selfish person who rejects the truth and wants to do evil. </span><span class="v45_2_9"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.9" class="v45_2_9">9</span>All who are wicked will be punished with trouble and suffering. It doesn't matter if they are Jews or Gentiles. </span><span class="v45_2_10"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.10" class="v45_2_10">10</span>But all who do right will be rewarded with glory, honor, and peace, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. </span><span class="v45_2_11"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.11" class="v45_2_11">11</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Rom.2.11!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> God doesn't have any favorites!</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v45_2_12"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.12" class="v45_2_12">12</span>Those people who don't know about God's Law will still be punished for what they do wrong. And the Law will be used to judge everyone who knows what it says. </span><span class="v45_2_13"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.13" class="v45_2_13">13</span>God accepts those who obey his Law, but not those who simply hear it.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v45_2_14"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.14" class="v45_2_14">14</span>Some people naturally obey the Law's commands, even though they don't have the Law. </span><span class="v45_2_15"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.15" class="v45_2_15">15</span>This proves that the conscience is like a law written in the human heart. And it will show whether we are forgiven or condemned, </span><span class="v45_2_16"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.16" class="v45_2_16">16</span>when God appoints Jesus Christ to judge everyone's secret thoughts, just as my message says.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Jews and the Law</h3><p class="par"><span class="v45_2_17"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.17" class="v45_2_17">17</span>Some of you call yourselves Jews. You trust in the Law and take pride in God. </span><span class="v45_2_18"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.18" class="v45_2_18">18</span>By reading the Scriptures you learn how God wants you to behave, and you discover what is right. </span><span class="v45_2_19"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.19" class="v45_2_19">19</span>You are sure that you are a guide for the blind and a light for all who are in the dark. </span><span class="v45_2_20"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.20" class="v45_2_20">20</span>And since there is knowledge and truth in God's Law, you think you can instruct fools and teach young people.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v45_2_21"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.21" class="v45_2_21">21</span>But how can you teach others when you refuse to learn? You preach it is wrong to steal. But do you steal? </span><span class="v45_2_22"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.22" class="v45_2_22">22</span>You say people should be faithful in marriage. But are you faithful? You hate idols, yet you rob their temples. </span><span class="v45_2_23"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.23" class="v45_2_23">23</span>You take pride in the Law, but you disobey the Law and bring shame to God. </span><span class="v45_2_24"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.24" class="v45_2_24">24</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Rom.2.24!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> It is just as the Scriptures tell us, “You have made foreigners say insulting things about God.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v45_2_25"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.25" class="v45_2_25">25</span>Being circumcised is worthwhile, if you obey the Law. But if you don't obey the Law, you are no better off than people who are not circumcised. </span><span class="v45_2_26"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.26" class="v45_2_26">26</span>In fact, if they obey the Law, they are as good as anyone who is circumcised. </span><span class="v45_2_27"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.27" class="v45_2_27">27</span>So everyone who obeys the Law, but has never been circumcised, will condemn you. Even though you are circumcised and have the Law, you still don't obey its teachings.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v45_2_28"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.28" class="v45_2_28">28</span>Just because you live like a Jew and are circumcised doesn't make you a real Jew. </span><span class="v45_2_29"><span class="reftext" id="Rom.2.29" class="v45_2_29">29</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Rom.2.29!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> To be a real Jew you must obey the Law. True circumcision is something that happens deep in your heart, not something done to your body. And besides, you should want praise from God and not from humans.</span></p> </div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (<a href="http://www.americanbible.org">www.americanbible.org</a>). Learn more at <a href="http://www.cev.bible">www.cev.bible</a>. Discover .BIBLE resources for your ministry at <a href="http://www.get.bible/cev">www.get.bible/cev</a></span></p><br /><br /><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br /><br /><br /></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../romans/1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Romans 1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Romans 1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../romans/3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Romans 3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Romans 3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/romans/2-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>