God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

^18 ^aFor the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and ^bunrighteousness of men, who ⁴suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ^19 because ^cwhat may be known of God is ⁵manifest ⁶in them, for ^dGod has shown it to them. ^20 For since the creation of the world ^eHis invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and ⁷Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ^21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but ^fbecame futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ^22 ^gProfessing to be wise, they became fools, ^23 and changed the glory of the ^hincorruptible ⁱGod into an image made like ⁸corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

^24 ^jTherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, ^kto dishonor their bodies ^lamong themselves, ^25 who exchanged ^mthe truth of God ⁿfor the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

^26 For this reason God gave them up to ^ovile passions. For even their ⁹women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. ^27 Likewise also the ¹men, leaving the natural use of the ²woman, burned in their lust for one another, ¹men with ¹men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

^28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things ^pwhich are not fitting; ^29 being filled with all unrighteousness, ³sexual immorality, wickedness, ⁴covetousness, ⁵maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, ^30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ^31 ⁶undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, ⁷unforgiving, unmerciful; ^32 who, ^qknowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things ^rare deserving of death, not only do the same but also ^sapprove of those who practice them.

God’s Righteous Judgment

2     Therefore you are ^ainexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, ^bfor in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. ^2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. ^3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? ^4 Or do you despise ^cthe riches of His goodness, ^dforbearance, and ^elongsuffering, ^fnot knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? ^5 But in accordance with your hardness and your ¹impenitent heart ^gyou are ²treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ^6 who ^h“will render to each one according to his deeds”: ^7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; ^8 but to those who are self-seeking and ⁱdo not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, ^9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew ^jfirst and also of the ³Greek; ^10 ^kbut glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ^11 For ^lthere is no partiality with God.

^12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law ^13 (for ^mnot the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; ^14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, ^15 who show the ⁿwork of the law written in their hearts, their ^oconscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) ^16 ^pin the day when God will judge the secrets of men ^qby Jesus Christ, ^raccording to my gospel.