13. Hearing the law does not make a person right with God. People are considered to be right with God only when they obey the law.
14. Those who aren't Jews do not have the law. Sometimes they just naturally do what the law requires. They are a law for themselves. This is true even though they don't have the law.
15. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts. The way their minds judge them gives witness to that fact. Sometimes their thoughts find them guilty. At other times their thoughts find them not guilty.
16. People will be judged on the day God appoints Jesus Christ to judge their secret thoughts. That's part of my good news.
17. Suppose you call yourself a Jew. You trust in the law. You brag that you are close to God.
18. You know what God wants. You agree with what is best because the law teaches you.
19. You are sure you can lead people who are blind. You are sure you are a light for those who are in the dark.
20. You claim to be able to teach foolish people. You can even teach babies. You think that in the law you have all knowledge and truth.
21. You teach others. But you don't teach yourself! You preach against stealing. But you steal!
22. You say that people should not commit adultery. But you commit adultery! You hate statues of gods. But you rob temples!
23. You brag about the law. But when you break it, you rob God of his honor!
24. It is written, "Those who aren't Jews say evil things against God's name because of you." (Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:22)
25. Circumcision has value if you obey the law. But if you break the law, it is just as if you hadn't been circumcised.
26. Sometimes those who aren't circumcised do what the law requires. Won't God accept them as if they had been circumcised?
27. Many are not circumcised physically, but they obey the law. They will prove that you are guilty. You are breaking the law, even though you have the written law and are circumcised.