Letters to the Churches

Because of this did God give them up to dishonourable affections, for even their females did change the natural use into that against nature;

and in like manner also the males having left the natural use of the female, did burn in their longing toward one another; males with males working shame, and the recompense of their error that was fit, in themselves receiving.

And, according as they did not approve of having God in knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved mind, to do the things not seemly;

having been filled with all unrighteousness, whoredom, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil dispositions; whisperers,

evil-speakers, God-haters, insulting, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

unintelligent, faithless, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;

who the righteous judgment of God having known--that those practising such things are worthy of death--not only do them, but also have delight with those practising them.

Therefore, thou art inexcusable, O man--every one who is judging--for in that in which thou dost judge the other, thyself thou dost condemn, for the same things thou dost practise who art judging,

and we have known that the judgment of God is according to truth, upon those practising such things.

And dost thou think this, O man, who art judging those who such things are practising, and art doing them, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

or the riches of His goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, dost thou despise? --not knowing that the goodness of God doth lead thee to reformation!

but, according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, thou dost treasure up to thyself wrath, in a day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

who shall render to each according to his works;

to those, indeed, who in continuance of a good work, do seek glory, and honour, and incorruptibility--life age-during;

and to those contentious, and disobedient, indeed, to the truth, and obeying the unrighteousness--indignation and wrath,

tribulation and distress, upon every soul of man that is working the evil, both of Jew first, and of Greek;

and glory, and honour, and peace, to every one who is working the good, both to Jew first, and to Greek.

For there is no acceptance of faces with God,

for as many as without law did sin, without law also shall perish, and as many as did sin in law, through law shall be judged,

for not the hearers of the law are righteous before God, but the doers of the law shall be declared righteous: --

For, when nations that have not a law, by nature may do the things of the law, these not having a law--to themselves are a law;

who do shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also witnessing with them, and between one another the thoughts accusing or else defending,

in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my good news, through Jesus Christ.

Lo, thou art named a Jew, and dost rest upon the law, and dost boast in God,

and dost know the will, and dost approve the distinctions, being instructed out of the law,