New King James Version

New International Version

God’s Judgment Defended

What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?

1

God’s Faithfulness

What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?

2

Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the [a]oracles of God.

2

Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.

3

For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?

3

What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?

4

Certainly not! Indeed, let God be [b]true but every man a liar. As it is written:
“That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged.”

4

Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge.”a

5

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)

5

But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.)

6

Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?

6

Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?

7

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

7

Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?”

8

And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”? — as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their [c]condemnation is just.

8

Why not say — as some slanderously claim that we say — “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!

9

All Have Sinned

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

9

No One Is Righteous

What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.

10

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

10

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

11

There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.

11

there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.

12

They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”

12

All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”b

13

“Their throat is an open [d]tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;

13

“Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”c
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”d

14

“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

14

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

15

“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

15

“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16

Destruction and misery are in their ways;

16

ruin and misery mark their ways,

17

And the way of peace they have not known.”

17

and the way of peace they do not know.”f

18

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

18

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

19

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become [e]guilty before God.

19

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

20

Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

20

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

21

God’s Righteousness Through Faith

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

21

Righteousness Through Faith

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.

22

even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all [f]and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

22

This righteousness is given through faith inh Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

23

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

23

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

24

being justified [g]freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

24

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

25

whom God set forth as a [h]propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

25

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,i through the shedding of his blood — to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished —

26

to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

26

he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27

Boasting Excluded

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

27

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.

28

Therefore we conclude that a man is [i]justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

28

For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

29

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

29

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

30

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

30

since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

31

Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

31

Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Parallel

New King James Version

New International Version

Romans 3

Romans 3