THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. CHAPTER I. PAUL, a servant of Christ Jesus, chosen as an Apostle, set apart 2 for the Gospel of God, which he had promised before by his 8 prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was 4 born of the seed of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by 5 the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the 6 faith in all nations for his name's sake, among whom are ye also 7 the chosen of Jesus Christ, to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, chosen to be saints, grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that 9 your faithfulness is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of 10 his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you, always making supplication in my prayers, that if possible I might now at length, God willing, make a prosperous journey to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual 12 gift, in order that you may be strengthened; that is, that I may be comforted among you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 But I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that I have often purposed to come to you, though I have hitherto been prevented, in order that I might have some fruit among you also as among 14 other Gentiles. I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the Bar15 barians, both to the wise and to the unwise; so, as much as in me 16 is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you also at Rome. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every believer, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to 17 faith; as it is written, The just by faith shall live. For the indignation of God is revealed from heaven against all 18 ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, holding the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is mani- 19 fest to them, for God hath showed it to them. For the invisible 20 things of him, even his eternal power and Godhead, from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things made, so that they are without excuse: because that when they 21 knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 22 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image like 23 unto corruptible man and birds and quadrupeds and reptiles. Wherefore God gave them up, through the lusts of their hearts to 24 impurity, to dishonor their own bodies among themselves: who 25 exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. On this account God gave them up to vile affections, for 26 even their women exchanged the natural use for that which is against nature; and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use 27 of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves the due recompense of their error. And inasmuch as they did not 28 like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not becoming; being 29 filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malevolence; whisperers, slanderers, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, 30 inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understand- 31 ing, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, cruel ; who knowing the judgment of God, that they who commit such 32 things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but take pleasure in them that do them. CHAPTER II. WHEREFORE thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest 2 thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against them 3 who commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them who do such things, and doest the same, that thou 4 shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, not considering 5 that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment 6 of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 to them who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory 8 and honor and immortality, eternal life; but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, 9 wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that worketh evil; of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to every man that doeth good; to the 11 Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law, shall also perish without law; and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged 13 by the law; (for not the hearers of the law are just before God, 14 but the doers of the law shall be made just; for when the Gen tiles, who have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, they, having not the law, become a law unto themselves; 15 who show the working of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing 16 or else excusing one another;) in the day when God shall judge 17 the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel. But if thou art called a Jew and restest in the law and makest thy 18 boast of God and knowest his will and approvest the things that 19 are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; and art confi dent that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them who 20 are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, |