Romans 3

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

What special privilege, then, has the Jew? Or what is the use 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, because to them were entrusted the oracles of God.

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

Supposing some of them have proved faithless?

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.'

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 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 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 let it not be! since how shall 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 in my falsehood did more abound to His glory, why yet am I also as a sinner judged?

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 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.

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? not at all! for we did before charge both Jews and Greeks with being 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 according as it hath been written — 'There is none righteous, not even one;

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

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

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

13 A sepulchre opened [is] their throat; with their tongues they used deceit; poison of asps [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 Swift [are] their feet to shed blood.

Their feet are swift to shed blood.

16 Ruin and misery [are] in their ways.

Destruction and ruin are in their paths;

17 And a way of peace they did not know.

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 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 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 wherefore by works of law shall no flesh be declared righteous before Him, for through law is a 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 And now apart from law hath the righteousness of God been manifested, testified to 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 and the righteousness of God [is] through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and upon all those believing, — for there is no difference,

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 did sin, and are come short of the glory of God —

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

24 being declared righteous 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 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 —

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 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.

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 was excluded; by what 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 therefore do we reckon a man to be declared righteous by faith, apart from works of law.

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

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

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

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

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

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