Romans — Chapter 3

1What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?

2Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.

3What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?

4Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”

5But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.

6Certainly not! In that case, how could God judge the world?

7However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?

8Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved!

9What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin.

10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.

11There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.

12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

13“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”

14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16ruin and misery lie in their wake,

17and the way of peace they have not known.”

18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

20Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

21But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.

22And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

25God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

26He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.

28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

29Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,

30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.

1What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

3For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

5But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

6God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

7For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

8And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

9What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17And the way of peace have they not known:

18There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

1What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?

2Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.

3For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?

4God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.

5But if our righteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)

6God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

7But if the truth of God through my lie abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

8and why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.

9What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;

10as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;

11There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God;

12They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not, so much as one:

13Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips:

14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16Destruction and misery are in their ways;

17And the way of peace have they not known:

18There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:

20because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law [cometh] the knowledge of sin.

21But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;

23for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

24being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25whom God set forth [to be] a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;

26for the showing, [I say], of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.

27Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith.

28We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

29Or is God [the God] of Jews only? is he not [the God] of Gentiles also? Yea, of Gentiles also:

30if so be that God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.

31Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.

1Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision?

2Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

3What then? If some were unfaithful, their unfaithfulness will not nullify God’s faithfulness, will it?

4Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.”

5But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? (I am speaking in human terms.)

6Absolutely not! For otherwise how could God judge the world?

7For if by my lie the truth of God enhances his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner?

8And why not say, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”?—as some who slander us allege that we say. (Their condemnation is deserved!)

9What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin,

10just as it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;

11there is no one who understands;there is no one who seeks God.

12All have turned away;together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.”

13“Their throats are open graves; they deceive with their tongues; the poison of asps is under their lips.”

14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16ruin and misery are in their paths,

17and the way of peace they have not known.”

18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

20For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

21But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (although it is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed—

22namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction,

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

24But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

25God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed.

26This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness.

27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith!

28For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.

29Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too!

30Since God is one, he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

31Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.

1Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?

2Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God.

3For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?

4May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”

5But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.

6May it never be! For then how will God judge the world?

7For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

8Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.

9What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin.

10As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.

11There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.

12They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”

13“Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips”;

14“whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood.

16Destruction and misery are in their ways.

17The way of peace, they haven’t known.”

18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

20Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

21But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;

22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,

23for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

24being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;

25whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;

26to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

27Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

28We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

29Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

30since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.

31Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.