Romans 3

1 How then is the Jew better off? or what profit is there in circumcision?

What special privilege, then, has a Jew? Or what benefit is to be derived from circumcision?

2 Much in every way: first of all because the words of God were given to them.

The privilege is great from every point of view. First of all, because the Jews were entrusted with God's truth.

3 And if some have no faith, will that make the faith of God without effect?

For what if some Jews have proved unfaithful? Shall their faithlessness render God's faithfulness worthless?

4 In no way: but let God be true, though every man is seen to be untrue; as it is said in the Writings, That your words may be seen to be true, and you may be seen to be right when you are judged.

No, indeed; let us hold God to be true, though every man should prove to be false. As it stands written, "That Thou mayest be shown to be just in the sentence Thou pronouncest, and gain Thy cause when Thou contendest."

5 But if the righteousness of God is supported by our wrongdoing what is to be said? is it wrong for God to be angry (as men may say)?

But if our unrighteousness sets God's righteousness in a clearer light, what shall we say? (Is God unrighteous--I speak in our everyday language-- when He inflicts punishment?

6 In no way: because if it is so, how is God able to be the judge of all the world?

No indeed; for in that case how shall He judge all mankind?)

7 But if, because I am untrue, God being seen to be true gets more glory, why am I to be judged as a sinner?

If, for instance, a falsehood of mine has made God's truthfulness more conspicuous, redounding to His glory, why am I judged all the same as a sinner?

8 Let us not do evil so that good may come (a statement which we are falsely said by some to have made), because such behaviour will have its right punishment.

And why should we not say--for so they wickedly misrepresent us, and so some charge us with arguing--"Let us do evil that good may come"? The condemnation of those who would so argue is just.

9 What then? are we worse off than they? In no way: because we have before made it clear that Jews as well as Greeks are all under the power of sin;

What then? Are we Jews more highly estimated than they? Not in the least; for we have already charged all Jews and Gentiles alike with being in thraldom to sin.

10 As it is said in the holy Writings, There is not one who does righteousness;

Thus it stands written, "There is not one righteous man.

11 Not one who has the knowledge of what is right, not one who is a searcher after God;

There is not one who is really wise, nor one who is a diligent seeker after God.

12 They have all gone out of the way, there is no profit in any of them; there is not one who does good, not so much as one:

All have turned aside from the right path; they have every one of them become corrupt. There is no one who does what is right--no, not so much as one."

13 Their throat is like an open place of death; with their tongues they have said what is not true: the poison of snakes is under their lips:

"Their throats resemble an opened grave; with their tongues they have been talking deceitfully." "The venom of vipers lies hidden behind their lips."

14 Whose mouth is full of curses and bitter words:

"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."

15 Their feet are quick in running after blood;

"Their feet move swiftly to shed blood.

16 Destruction and trouble are in their ways;

Ruin and misery mark their path;

17 And of the way of peace they have no knowledge:

and the way to 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 Now, we have knowledge that what the law says is for those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and all men may be judged by God:

But it cannot be denied that all that the Law says is addressed to those who are living under the Law, in order that every mouth may be stopped, and that the whole world may await sentence from God.

20 Because by the works of the law no man is able to have righteousness in his eyes, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

For on the ground of obedience to Law no man living will be declared righteous before Him. Law simply brings a sure knowledge of sin.

21 But now without the law there is a revelation of the righteousness of God, to which witness is given by the law and the prophets;

But now a righteousness coming from God has been brought to light apart from any Law, both Law and Prophets bearing witness to it--

22 That is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all those who have faith; and one man is not different from another,

a righteousness coming from God, which depends on faith in Jesus Christ and extends to all who believe. No distinction is made;

23 For all have done wrong and are far from the glory of God;

for all alike have sinned, and all consciously come short of the glory of God,

24 And they may have righteousness put to their credit, freely, by his grace, through the salvation which is in Christ Jesus:

gaining acquittal from guilt by His free unpurchased grace through the deliverance which is found in Christ Jesus.

25 Whom God has put forward as the sign of his mercy, through faith, by his blood, to make clear his righteousness when, in his pity, God let the sins of earlier times go without punishment;

He it is whom God put forward as a Mercy-seat, rendered efficacious through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness-- because of the passing over, in God's forbearance, of the sins previously committed--

26 And to make clear his righteousness now, so that he might himself be upright, and give righteousness to him who has faith in Jesus.

with a view to demonstrating, at the present time, His righteousness, that He may be shown to be righteous Himself, and the giver of righteousness to those who believe in Jesus.

27 What reason, then, is there for pride? It is shut out. By what sort of law? of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Where then is there room for your boasting? It is for ever shut out. On what principle? On the ground of merit? No, but on the ground of faith.

28 For this reason, then, a man may get righteousness by faith without the works of the law.

For we maintain that it is as the result of faith that a man is held to be righteous, apart from actions done in obedience to Law.

29 Or is God the God of Jews only? is he not in the same way the God of Gentiles? Yes, of Gentiles:

Is God simply the God of the Jews, and not of the Gentiles also? He is certainly the God of the Gentiles also,

30 If God is one; and he will give righteousness because of faith to those who have circumcision, and through faith to those who have not circumcision.

unless you can deny that it is one and the same God who will pronounce the circumcised to be acquitted on the ground of faith, and the uncircumcised to be acquitted through the same faith.

31 Do we, then, through faith make the law of no effect? in no way: but we make it clear that the law is important.

Do we then by means of this faith abolish the Law? No, indeed; we give the Law a firmer footing.