Romans 3

1 So then, what more is the Jew, or what is the usefulness of circumcision?

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

2 Much in every way: First of all, certainly, because the eloquence of God was entrusted to them.

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

3 But what if some of them have not believed? Shall their unbelief nullify the faith of God? Let it not be so!

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

4 For God is truthful, but every man is deceitful; just as it was written: “Therefore, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment.”

May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “that you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”

5 But if even our injustice points to the justice of God, what shall we say? Could God be unfair for inflicting wrath?

But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.

6 (I am speaking in human terms.) Let it not be so! Otherwise, how would God judge this world?

May it never be! For then how will God judge the world?

7 For if the truth of God has abounded, through my falseness, unto his glory, why should I still be judged as such a sinner?

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

8 And should we not do evil, so that good may result? For so we have been slandered, and so some have claimed we said; their condemnation is just.

Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let’s do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.

9 What is next? Should we try to excel ahead of them? By no means! For we have accused all Jews and Greeks to be under sin,

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.

10 just as it was written: “There is no one who is just.

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

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

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

12 All have gone astray; together they have become useless. There is no one who does good; there is not even one.

They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”

13 Their throat is an open sepulcher. With their tongues, they have been acting deceitfully. The venom of asps is under their lips.

“Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips.”

14 Their mouth is full of curses 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 Grief and unhappiness are in their ways.

Destruction and misery are in their ways.

17 And the way of peace they have not known.

The way of peace, they haven’t known.”

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

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

19 But we know that whatever the law speaks, it speaks to those who are in the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the entire world may be subject to God.

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.

20 For in his presence no flesh shall be justified by the works of the law. For knowledge of sin is through the law.

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

21 But now, without the law, the justice of God, to which the law and the prophets have testified, has been made manifest.

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

22 And the justice of God, through the faith of Jesus Christ, is in all those and over all those who believe in him. For there is no distinction.

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

23 For all have sinned and all are in need of the glory of God.

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

24 We have been justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

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

25 whom God has offered as a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to reveal his justice for the remission of the former offenses,

whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;

26 and by the forbearance of God, to reveal his justice in this time, so that he himself might be both the Just One and the Justifier of anyone who is of the faith of Jesus Christ.

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

27 So then, where is your self-exaltation? It is excluded. Through what law? That of works? No, but rather through the law of faith.

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

28 For we judge a man to be justified by faith, without the works of the law.

We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

29 Is God of the Jews only and not also of the Gentiles? On the contrary, of the Gentiles also.

Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

30 For One is the God who justifies circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith.

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

31 Are we then destroying the law through faith? Let it not be so! Instead, we are making the law stand.

Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.