New King James Version

New Living Translation

God’s Judgment Defended

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

1

God Remains Faithful

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

2

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

2

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

3

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

3

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

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

Of 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.”b

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,” 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.)

6

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

6

Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to 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

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

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

And 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.

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

All People Are Sinners

Well 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,c are under the power of sin.

10

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

10

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

11

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

11

No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking 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;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one.”d

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

14

“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

14

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

15

“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

15

“They rush to commit murder.

16

Destruction and misery are in their ways;

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Destruction and misery always follow them.

17

And the way of peace they have not known.”

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

18

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

18

“They have no fear of God at all.”h

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

Obviously, 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.

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

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

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

Christ Took Our Punishment

But 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 Mosesi and the prophets long ago.

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

We 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.

23

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

23

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

24

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

24

Yet 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.

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

For 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,

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

for 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.

27

Boasting Excluded

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

27

Can 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.

28

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

28

So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying 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

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

30

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

30

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

31

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

31

Well 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.

Parallel

New King James Version

New Living Translation

Romans 3

Romans 3