Romans 2, side by side

Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.

Modern

1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

Classic

1Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

Modern

2And we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.

Classic

2But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

Modern

3So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?

Classic

3And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

Modern

4Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

Classic

4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Modern

5But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Classic

5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Modern

6God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”

Classic

6Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

Modern

7To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.

Classic

7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Modern

8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.

Classic

8But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Modern

9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;

Classic

9Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

Modern

10but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then for the Greek.

Classic

10But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

Modern

11For God does not show favoritism.

Classic

11For there is no respect of persons with God.

Modern

12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

Classic

12For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

Modern

13For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.

Classic

13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Modern

14Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

Classic

14For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Modern

15So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them

Classic

15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Modern

16on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.

Classic

16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Modern

17Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;

Classic

17Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

Modern

18if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;

Classic

18And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

Modern

19if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness,

Classic

19And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

Modern

20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—

Classic

20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

Modern

21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

Classic

21Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Modern

22You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

Classic

22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

Modern

23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

Classic

23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

Modern

24As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Classic

24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Modern

25Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

Classic

25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

Modern

26If a man who is not circumcised keeps the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

Classic

26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Modern

27The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

Classic

27And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

Modern

28A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.

Classic

28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

Modern

29No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

Classic

29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Your pair of translations is remembered on this device for other chapters.