¹⁰ Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.^(A)

¹² All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law^(A) will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey^(B) the law who will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law,^(C) they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵ They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,^{(A) 2} in which you used to live^(B) when you followed the ways of this world^(C) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,^(D) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.^{(E) 3} All of us also lived among them at one time,^(F) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a](G) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering^(A) to the Lord.^{(B) 4} And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions^(C) from some of the firstborn of his flock.^(D) The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,^{(E) 5} but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry?^(F) Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;^(G) it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.^(H)”

⁸ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”^[a] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.^(I)

² in which you used to live^(A) when you followed the ways of this world^(B) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,^(C) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.^{(D) 3} All of us also lived among them at one time,^(E) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a](F) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us,^(G) God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions^(H)—it is by grace you have been saved.^{(I) 6} And God raised us up with Christ^(J) and seated us with him^(K) in the heavenly realms^(L) in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,^(M) expressed in his kindness^(N) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace^(O) you have been saved,^(P) through faith^(Q)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works,^(R) so that no one can boast.^{(S) 10} For we are God’s handiwork,^(T) created^(U) in Christ Jesus to do good works,^(V) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly^(W) you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)^(X)— ¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners^(Y) to the covenants of the promise,^(Z) without hope^(AA) and without God in the world.

¹² But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.^(A)