Romans

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans, chapter 3, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 3 New English Translation

   1 Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: "so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged."
   5 But 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. ) 6 Absolutely not! For otherwise how could God judge the world? 7 For if by my lie the truth of God enhances his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, "Let us do evil so that good may come of it"? - as some who slander us allege that we say. (Their condemnation is deserved! )

The Condemnation of the World

   9 What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin, 10 just as it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one,
   11 there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God.
   12 All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one."
   13 "Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips."
   14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
   15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood,
   16 ruin and misery are in their paths,
   17 and the way of peace they have not known."
   18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
   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 may be held accountable to God. 20 For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed - 22 namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24 But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. 26 This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus' faithfulness.
   27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith! 28 For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too! 30 Since God is one, he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.

King James Version

   1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
   2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
   3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
   4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
   5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
   6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
   7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
   8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
   9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
   10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
   11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
   12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
   13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
   14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
   15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
   16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
   17 And the way of peace have they not known:
   18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
   19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
   20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
   21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
   22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
   23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
   24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
   25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
   26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
   27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
   28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
   29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
   30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
   31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.