English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?

1Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision?

2Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

2Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.

3What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?

3True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful?

4By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”

4Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court.”

5But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)

5“But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.)

6By no means! For then how could God judge the world?

6Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world?

7But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?

7“But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?”

8And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

8And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned. All People Are Sinners

9What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,

9Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin.

10as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

10As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one.

11no one understands; no one seeks for God.

11No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.

12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

12All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”

13“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.”

13“Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.”

14“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”

14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

15“They rush to commit murder.

16in their paths are ruin and misery,

16Destruction and misery always follow them.

17and the way of peace they have not known.”

17They don’t know where to find peace.”

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

18“They have no fear of God at all.”

19Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

19Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.

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

20For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. Christ Took Our Punishment

21But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—

21But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.

22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

22We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

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

23For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

24Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

25whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

25For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

26for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

27Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.

27Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.

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

28So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

29After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is.

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

30There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.

31Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

31Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.