International Standard Version

English Standard Version

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

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

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

2Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews 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 if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?

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."

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.”

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 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.)

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

6By no means! For then how could 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 God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned 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 do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. 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 Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,

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

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

11No one understands. No one searches for God.

11no one understands; no one 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 worthless; no one does good, 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; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.”

14Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.

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

15They run swiftly to shed blood.

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16Ruin and misery characterize their lives.

16in their paths are ruin and misery,

17They have not learned the path to peace.

17and the way 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 stopped, and the whole world may be held 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.

20For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes 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 the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—

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

22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all 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,

24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that 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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

28For we hold that one 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 God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

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

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

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

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.