13. It isn’t the ones who hear the Law who are righteous in God’s eyes. It is the ones who do what the Law says who will be treated as righteous.
14. Gentiles don’t have the Law. But when they instinctively do what the Law requires they are a Law in themselves, though they don’t have the Law.
15. They show the proof of the Law written on their hearts, and their consciences affirm it. Their conflicting thoughts will accuse them, or even make a defense for them,
16. on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the hidden truth about human beings through Christ Jesus.
17. But, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the Law; if you brag about your relationship to God;
18. if you know the will of God; if you are taught by the Law so that you can figure out the things that really matter;
19. if you have persuaded yourself that you are: a guide for the blind; a light to those who are in darkness;
20. an educator of the foolish; a teacher of infants (since you have the full content of knowledge and truth in the Law);
21. then why don’t you who are teaching others teach yourself? If you preach, "No stealing," do you steal?
22. If you say, "No adultery," do you commit adultery? If you hate idols, do you rob temples?
23. If you brag about the Law, do you shame God by breaking the Law?
24. As it is written: The name of God is discredited by the Gentiles because of you.
25. Circumcision is an advantage if you do what the Law says. But if you are a person who breaks the Law, your status of being circumcised has changed into not being circumcised.