1 D o the Jews have anything that those who are not Jews do not have? What good does it do to go through the religious act of becoming a Jew?

What, then, the superiority of the Jew? or what the profit of the circumcision?

2 Y es, the Jews have much more in every way. First of all, God gave the Jews His Law.

much in every way; for first, indeed, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God;

3 I f some of them were not faithful, does it mean that God will not be faithful?

for what, if certain were faithless? shall their faithlessness the faithfulness of god make useless?

4 N o, not at all! God is always true even if every man lies. The Holy Writings say, “Speak the truth and you will not be proven guilty.”

let it not be! and let God become true, and every man false, according as it hath been written, `That Thou mayest be declared righteous in Thy words, and mayest overcome in Thy being judged.'

5 I f our sins show how right God is, what can we say? Is it wrong for God to punish us for it? (I am speaking as men do.)

And, if our unrighteousness God's righteousness doth establish, what shall we say? is God unrighteous who is inflicting the wrath? (after the manner of a man I speak)

6 N o, not at all! If it were wrong for God to punish us, how could He judge the world?

let it not be! since how shall God judge the world?

7 I f my lies honor God by showing how true He is, why am I still being judged as a sinner?

for if the truth of God in my falsehood did more abound to His glory, why yet am I also as a sinner judged?

8 W hy not say, “Let us sin that good will come from it.” (Some people have said I talk like this!) They will be punished as they should be.

and not, as we are evil spoken of, and as certain affirm us to say -- `We may do the evil things, that the good ones may come?' whose judgment is righteous.

9 W hat about it then? Are we Jews better than the people who are not Jews? Not at all! I have already said that Jews and the people who are not Jews are all sinners.

What, then? are we better? not at all! for we did before charge both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin,

10 T he Holy Writings say, “There is not one person who is right with God. No, not even one!

according as it hath been written -- `There is none righteous, not even one;

11 T here is not one who understands. There is not one who tries to find God.”

There is none who is understanding, there is none who is seeking after God.

12 E veryone has turned away from God. They have all done wrong. Not one of them does what is good. No, not even one!

All did go out of the way, together they became unprofitable, there is none doing good, there is not even one.

13 T heir mouth is like an open grave. They tell lies with their tongues. Whatever they say is like the poison of snakes.

A sepulchre opened their throat; with their tongues they used deceit; poison of asps under their lips.

14 T heir mouths speak bad things against God. They say bad things about other people.

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

15 T hey are quick to hurt and kill people.

Swift their feet to shed blood.

16 W herever they go, they destroy and make people suffer.

Ruin and misery in their ways.

17 T hey know nothing about peace.

And a way of peace they did not know.

18 T hey do not honor God with love and fear.”

There is no fear of God before their eyes.'

19 N ow we know that the Law speaks to those who live under the Law. No one can say that he does not know what sin is. Yes, every person in the world stands guilty before God.

And we have known that as many things as the law saith, to those in the law it doth speak, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may come under judgment to God;

20 N o person will be made right with God by doing what the Law says. The Law shows us how sinful we are.

wherefore by works of law shall no flesh be declared righteous before Him, for through law is a knowledge of sin.

21 B ut now God has made another way to make men right with Himself. It is not by the Law. The Law and the early preachers tell about it.

And now apart from law hath the righteousness of God been manifested, testified to by the law and the prophets,

22 M en become right with God by putting their trust in Jesus Christ. God will accept men if they come this way. All men are the same to God.

and the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and upon all those believing, -- for there is no difference,

23 F or all men have sinned and have missed the shining-greatness of God.

for all did sin, and are come short of the glory of God --

24 A nyone can be made right with God by the free gift of His loving-favor. It is Jesus Christ Who bought them with His blood and made them free from their sins.

being declared righteous freely by His grace through the redemption that in Christ Jesus,

25 G od gave Jesus Christ to the world. Men’s sins can be forgiven through the blood of Christ when they put their trust in Him. God gave His Son Jesus Christ to show how right He is. Before this, God did not look on the sins that were done.

whom God did set forth a mercy seat, through the faith in his blood, for the shewing forth of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the bygone sins in the forbearance of God --

26 B ut now God proves that He is right in saving men from sin. He shows that He is the One Who has no sin. God makes anyone right with Himself who puts his trust in Jesus.

for the shewing forth of His righteousness in the present time, for His being righteous, and declaring him righteous who of the faith of Jesus.

27 W hat then do we have to be proud of? Nothing at all! Why? Is it because men obey the Law? No! It is because men put their trust in Christ.

Where then the boasting? it was excluded; by what law? of works? no, but by a law of faith:

28 T his is what we have come to know. A man is made right with God by putting his trust in Christ. It is not by his doing what the Law says.

therefore do we reckon a man to be declared righteous by faith, apart from works of law.

29 I s God the God of the Jews only? Is He not the God of the people who are not Jews also? He is for sure.

The God of Jews only, and not also of nations?

30 H e is one God. He will make Jews and the people who are not Jews right with Himself if they put their trust in Christ.

yes, also of nations; since one God who shall declare righteous the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through the faith.

31 D oes this mean that we do away with the Law when we put our trust in Christ? No, not at all. It means we know the Law is important.

Law then do we make useless through the faith? let it not be! yea, we do establish law.