International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1What advantage, then, does the Jew have, or what value is there in circumcision?

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

2There are all kinds of advantages! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the utterances of God.

2Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

3What if some of the Jews were unfaithful? Their unfaithfulness cannot cancel God's faithfulness, can it?

3What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?

4Of course not! God is true, even if everyone else is a liar. As it is written, "You are right when you speak, and win your case when you go into court."

4May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, "THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED."

5But if our unrighteousness serves to confirm God's righteousness, what can we say? God is not unrighteous when he vents his wrath on us, is he? (I am talking in human terms.)

5But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.)

6Of course not! Otherwise, how could God judge the world?

6May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?

7For if through my falsehood God's truthfulness glorifies him even more, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?

7But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?

8Or can we say—as some people slander us by claiming that we say—"Let's do evil that good may result"? They deserve to be condemned!

8And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), "Let us do evil that good may come "? Their condemnation is just.

9What, then, does this mean? Are we Jews any better off? Not at all! For we have already accused everyone, both Jews and Greeks, of being under the power of sin.

9What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;

10As it is written, "Not even one person is righteous.

10as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

11No one understands. No one searches for God.

11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

12All have turned away. They have become completely worthless. No one shows kindness, not even one person!

12ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."

13Their throats are open graves. With their tongues they deceive. The venom of poisonous snakes is under their lips.

13"THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";

14Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.

14"WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";

15They run swiftly to shed blood.

15"THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,

16Ruin and misery characterize their lives.

16DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,

17They have not learned the path to peace.

17AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."

18They don't fear God.

18"THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."

19Now we know that whatever the Law says applies to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

19Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;

20Therefore, God will not justify any human being by means of the actions prescribed by the Law, for through the Law comes the full knowledge of sin.

20because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

21But now, apart from the Law, God's righteousness is revealed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets—

21But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

22God's righteousness through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah — for all who believe. For there is no distinction among people,

22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

23since all have sinned and continue to fall short of God's glory.

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

24By his grace they are justified freely through the redemption that is in the Messiah Jesus,

24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

25whom God offered as a place where atonement by the Messiah's blood would occur through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because he had waited patiently to deal with sins committed in the past.

25whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

26He wanted to demonstrate at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies anyone who has the faithfulness of Jesus.

26for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

27What, then, is there to boast about? That has been eliminated. On what principle? On that of actions? No, but on the principle of faith.

27Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

28For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the actions prescribed by the Law.

28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

29Is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the gentiles, too? Yes, of the gentiles, too,

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

30since there is only one God who will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised by that same faith.

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

31Do we, then, abolish the Law by this faith? Of course not! Instead, we uphold the Law.

31Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org