Romans 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 let it not be! and let God become true, and every man false, according as it hath been written, 'That Thou mayest be declared righteous in Thy words, and mayest overcome in Thy being judged.'

Certainly 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.”

5 And, if our unrighteousness God's righteousness doth establish, what shall we say? is God unrighteous who is inflicting the wrath? (after the manner of a man I speak)

But 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.

6 let it not be! since how shall God judge the world?

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

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

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

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

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

9 What, then? are we better? not at all! for we did before charge both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin,

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

10 according as it hath been written — 'There is none righteous, not even one;

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

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

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

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

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

13 A sepulchre opened [is] their throat; with their tongues they used deceit; poison of asps [is] under their lips.

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

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

15 Swift [are] their feet to shed blood.

“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 Ruin and misery [are] in their ways.

ruin and misery lie in their wake,

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 saith, to those in the law it doth speak, 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 silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

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

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

21 And now apart from law hath the righteousness of God been manifested, testified to by the law and the prophets,

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

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

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

23 for all did sin, and are come 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,

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

25 whom God did set forth a mercy seat, through the faith in his blood, for the shewing forth of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the bygone sins in the forbearance of God —

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

26 for the shewing 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 this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify 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. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.

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

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

29 The God of Jews only [is He], and not also of nations?

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

30 yes, also of nations; since one [is] God who shall declare righteous the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through the faith.

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

31 Law then do we make useless through the faith? let it not be! yea, we do establish law.

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