Romans 3

1 What, then, [is] the superiority of the Jew? Or what the profit of the circumcision?

What then is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?

2 Much in every way; for first, indeed, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God;

Much in every way. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

3 for what, if certain were faithless? Will their faithlessness make the faithfulness of God useless?

Now what if some of them were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify the faithfulness of God?

4 Let it not be! And let God become true, and every man false, according as it has been written: “That You may be declared righteous in Your words, and may overcome in Your being judged.”

Certainly not! Rather, let God be true even if every man is a liar, just as it is written, “So that yoʋ may be justified in yoʋr words, and prevail when yoʋ are judged.”

5 And if our unrighteousness establishes God’s righteousness, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who is inflicting the wrath? (I speak after the manner of a man.)

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God, who inflicts wrath, unrighteous? (I speak in a human way.)

6 Let it not be! Since how will God judge the world?

Certainly not! Otherwise, how could God judge the world?

7 For if the truth of God in my falsehood abounded more to His glory, why am I also yet judged as a sinner?

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

8 And not, as we are spoken evil of, and as certain affirm us to say, “We may do the evil things, that the good ones may come?” Whose judgment is righteous.

And why not say (just as some slanderously claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come”? Their condemnation is just.

9 What, then? Are we better? Not at all! For we charged before both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin,

What then? Are we Jews any better off? Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin,

10 according as it has been written: “There is none righteous, not even one;

just as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;

11 there is none who is understanding, there is none who is seeking after God.

there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.

12 All went out of the way, together they became unprofitable, there is none doing good, there is not even one.

All have turned aside; together they have become useless; there is none who shows kindness, not even one.”

13 Their throat [is] an opened grave; with their tongues they used deceit; poison of cobras [is] under their lips—

“Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.”

14 whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

“Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

15 Their feet [are] swift to shed blood.

“Their feet are swift to shed blood.

16 Ruin and misery [are] in their ways.

Ruin and misery are in their paths,

17 And a way of peace they did not know.

and the way of peace they have not known.”

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

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

19 And we have known that as many things as the Law says, to those in the Law it speaks, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may come under judgment to God;

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

20 for this reason by works of law will no flesh be declared righteous before Him, for through law is a knowledge of sin.

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

21 And now apart from law the righteousness of God has been revealed, testified to by the Law and the Prophets,

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

22 and the righteousness of God [is] through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and on all those believing—for there is no difference,

that is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all and upon all who believe; for there is no distinction.

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

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24 being declared righteous freely by His grace through the redemption that [is] in Christ Jesus,

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

25 whom God set forth [as] a propitiatory covering, through faith in His blood, for the showing forth of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the former sins in the forbearance of God—

whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith, by his blood. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins that had previously been committed.

26 for the showing forth of His righteousness in the present time, for His being righteous, and declaring him righteous who [is] of the faith of Jesus.

He did so to prove in the present time that he is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.

27 Where then [is] the boasting? It was excluded; by what law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith:

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

28 therefore we reckon a man to be declared righteous by faith, apart from works of law.

We conclude therefore that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

29 [Is He] only the God of Jews, and not also of nations?

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

30 Yes, also of nations; since [there is] one God who will declare righteous circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

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

31 Do we then make law useless through faith? Let it not be! Indeed, we establish law.

Do we then nullify the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we uphold the law.