Romans 3

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

What special privilege, then, has the Jew? Or what is the use of circumcision?

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

Much in every way. First of all, because to them were entrusted the oracles of God.

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

Supposing some of them have proved faithless?

4 Absolutely not. Let God be found true, but every human being a liar. As it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you judge."

By no means! Be sure that God is ever true, though all mankind prove false. As it is written, That thou mayest be found just in thine argument, And gain thy cause when thou contendest.

5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? (I am speaking in human terms).

But if our unrighteousness thus brings out God’s righteousness, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous - I speak after the manner of men - when he inflicts his anger on us?

6 Absolutely not. For then how will God judge the world?

Be it far from us; for in that case how could God judge the world?

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

But if by a falsehood of mine the truthfulness of God has been made to redound to his glory, why am I still tried as a sinner?

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

And why not say (as I myself am slanderously reported to say), "Let us do evil that good may come out of it"? Such arguments are rightly condemned.

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

What then? Are we Jews in a better position? Not at all, for I have already charged all, both Jews and Gentiles, with being under sin.

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

As it is written. There is none righteous, no, not one;

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

There is none that understands, none that seeks for God!

12 They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, there is not even one."

All have swerved from the right path; Every one of them has become corrupt. There is none that practises good, no, not one.

13 "Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit." "Viper's poison is under their lips;"

Their throat is an open grave; With their tongues they have used deceit. 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 Destruction and calamity are in their paths.

Destruction and ruin are in their paths;

17 The way of peace, they have not known."

And the path of peace they have not known.

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

Reverence for God is not before their eyes.

19 Now 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.

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

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

For no man will be justified in God’s sight by works of the Law; for through the Law comes the consciousness of sin.

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

But now, quite apart from any law, a righteousness coming from God has been fully brought to light, continually witnessed to by the Law and the Prophets.

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

I mean a righteousness coming from God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all who believe. For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile,

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

since all have sinned and lack the glory which comes from God;

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

but they are now being justified by his free grace through the deliverance that is in Christ Jesus.

25 whom God set forth whom God displayed publicly as a mercy seat, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness, because in God's forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed;

For God openly set him forth for himself as an offering of atonement through faith, by means of his blood, in order to show forth his righteousness - since in his forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed - to show forth his righteousness,

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

I say, at this present time; that he himself might be just, and yet the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

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

Then what becomes of boasting? It is shut out. What sort of law forbids it? A law of works? No, but a law of faith.

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

For I conclude that a man is justified by faith, altogether apart from the deeds of the Law.

29 Or is God for Jews only? Is he not the God of the non-Jews also? Yes, of the non-Jews also,

Is God then the God of the Jews alone, and not of the Gentiles also? He is God of the Gentiles also,

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

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

31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not. No, we establish the law.

Do we then render law invalid through faith? Certainly not; on the contrary we make it stand.