To the Romans
3 What, then, is the superiority of the Jew,+ or what is the benefit of the circumcision?+ 2 A great deal in every way. First of all, because they were entrusted with the sacred pronouncements* of God.+ 3 What, then, [is the case]? If some did not express faith,+ will their lack of faith perhaps make the faithfulness+ of God without effect?+ 4 Never may that happen! But let God be found true,+ though every man be found a liar,+ even as it is written: “That you might be proved righteous in your words and might win when you are being judged.”+ 5 However, if our unrighteousness brings God’s righteousness+ to the fore, what shall we say? God is not unjust+ when he vents his wrath, is he? (I am speaking as a man+ does.) 6 Never may that happen! How, otherwise, will God judge the world?+
7 Yet if by reason of my lie the truth of God+ has been made more prominent to his glory, why am I also yet being judged as a sinner?+ 8 And [why] not [say], just as it is falsely charged+ to us and just as some men state that we say: “Let us do the bad things that the good things may come”?+ The judgment+ against those [men] is in harmony with justice.+
9 What then? Are we in a better position?+ Not at all! For above we have made the charge that Jews as well as Greeks are all under sin;*+ 10 just as it is written: “There is not a righteous [man], not even one;+ 11 there is no one that has any insight, there is no one that seeks for God.+ 12 All [men] have deflected, all of them together have become worthless; there is no one that does kindness, there is not so much as one.”+ 13 “Their throat is an opened grave, they have used deceit with their tongues.”+ “Poison of asps is behind their lips.”+ 14 “And their mouth is full of cursing and bitter expression.”+ 15 “Their feet are speedy to shed blood.”+ 16 “Ruin and misery are in their ways,+ 17 and they have not known the way of peace.”+ 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”*+
19 Now we know that all the things the Law*+ says it addresses to those under the Law, so that every mouth may be stopped+ and all the world may become liable+ to God for punishment.+ 20 Therefore by works of law no flesh will be declared righteous+ before him, for by law+ is the accurate knowledge of sin.+
21 But now apart from law God’s righteousness+ has been made manifest, as it is borne witness+ to by the Law+ and the Prophets;+ 22 yes, God’s righteousness through the faith in Jesus* Christ,+ for all those having faith.+ For there is no distinction.+ 23 For all have sinned+ and fall short of the glory of God,+ 24 and it is as a free gift+ that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness+ through the release by the ransom+ [paid] by Christ* Jesus. 25 God set him forth as an offering for propitiation*+ through faith in his blood.+ This was in order to exhibit his own righteousness, because he was forgiving the sins+ that occurred in the past while God was exercising forbearance;+ 26 so as to exhibit his own righteousness+ in this present season, that he might be righteous even when declaring righteous+ the man that has faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is the boasting?+ It is shut out. Through what law?+ That of works?+ No indeed, but through the law of faith.+ 28 For we reckon that a man is declared righteous* by faith apart from works of law.+ 29 Or is he the God of the Jews only?+ Is he not also of people of the nations?+ Yes, of people of the nations also,+ 30 if truly God is one,+ who will declare circumcised+ people righteous as a result of faith and uncircumcised+ people righteous by means of their faith. 31 Do we, then, abolish law by means of our faith?+ Never may that happen! On the contrary, we establish law.+