God’s Righteous Judgment
(Psalm 75:1–10)

1For this reason, O man, each one of you who judges is inexcusable. For by that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you do the same things that you judge. 2For we know that the judgment of God is in accord with truth against those who do such things. 3But, O man, when you judge those who do such things as you yourself also do, do you think that you will escape the judgment of God? 4Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and patience and forbearance? Do you not know that the kindness of God is calling you to repentance? 5But in accord with your hard and impenitent heart, you store up wrath for yourself, unto the day of wrath and of revelation by the just judgment of God. 6For he will render to each one according to his works: 7To those who, in accord with patient good works, seek glory and honor and incorruption, certainly, he will render eternal life. 8But to those who are contentious and who do not acquiesce to the truth, but instead trust in iniquity, he will render wrath and indignation. 9Tribulation and anguish are upon every soul of man that works evil: the Jew first, and also the Greek. 10But glory and honor and peace are for all who do what is good: the Jew first, and also the Greek. 11For there is no favoritism with God.

12For whoever had sinned without the law, will perish without the law. And whoever had sinned in the law, will be judged by the law. 13For it is not the hearers of the law who are just before God, but rather it is the doers of the law who shall be justified. 14For when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature those things which are of the law, such persons, not having the law, are a law unto themselves. 15For they reveal the work of the law written in their hearts, while their conscience renders testimony about them, and their thoughts within themselves also accuse or even defend them, 16unto the day when God shall judge the hidden things of men, through Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel.

The Jews and the Law

17But if you are called by name a Jew, and you rest upon the law, and you find glory in God, 18and you have known his will, and you demonstrate the more useful things, having been instructed by the law: 19you become confident within yourself that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20an instructor to the foolish, a teacher to children, because you have a type of knowledge and truth in the law. 21As a result, you teach others, but you do not teach yourself. You preach that men should not steal, but you yourself steal. 22You speak against adultery, but you commit adultery. You abominate idols, but you commit sacrilege. 23You would glory in the law, but through a betrayal of the law you dishonor God. 24(For because of you the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles, just as it was written.)

25Certainly, circumcision is beneficial, if you observe the law. But if you are a betrayer of the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26And so, if the uncircumcised keep the justices of the law, shall not this lack of circumcision be counted as circumcision? 27And that which is by nature uncircumcised, if it fulfills the law, should it not judge you, who by the letter and by circumcision are a betrayer of the law? 28For a Jew is not he who seems so outwardly. Neither is circumcision that which seems so outwardly, in the flesh. 29But a Jew is he who is so inwardly. And circumcision of the heart is in the spirit, not in the letter. For its praise is not of men, but of God.