[2:1] Do you, my friend, pass judgment on others? You have no excuse at all, whoever you are. For when you judge others and then do the same things which they do, you condemn yourself.
[2:2] We know that God is right when he judges the people who do such things as these.
[2:3] But you, my friend, do those very things for which you pass judgment on others! Do you think you will escape God's judgment?
[2:4] Or perhaps you despise his great kindness, tolerance, and patience. Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent.
[2:5] But you have a hard and stubborn heart, and so you are making your own punishment even greater on the Day when God's anger and righteous judgments will be revealed.
[2:6] For God will reward each of us according to what we have done.
[2:7] Some people keep on doing good, and seek glory, honor, and immortal life; to them God will give eternal life.
[2:8] Other people are selfish and reject what is right, in order to follow what is wrong; on them God will pour out his anger and fury.
[2:9] There will be suffering and pain for all those who do what is evil, for the Jews first and also for the Gentiles.
[2:10] But God will give glory, honor, and peace to all who do what is good, to the Jews first and also to the Gentiles.
[2:11] For God judges everyone by the same standard.
[2:12] The Gentiles do not have the Law of Moses; they sin and are lost apart from the Law. The Jews have the Law; they sin and are judged by the Law.
[2:13] For it is not by hearing the Law that people are put right with God, but by doing what the Law commands.
[2:14] The Gentiles do not have the Law; but whenever they do by instinct what the Law commands, they are their own law, even though they do not have the Law.
[2:15] Their conduct shows that what the Law commands is written in their hearts. Their consciences also show that this is true, since their thoughts sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them.
[2:16] And so, according to the Good News I preach, this is how it will be on that Day when God through Jesus Christ will judge the secret thoughts of all.