1 T hen what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?

Do 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?

2 M uch in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God.

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

3 F or what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?

If some of them were not faithful, does it mean that God will not be faithful?

4 M ay it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”

No, 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.”

5 B ut if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.

If 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.)

6 M ay it never be! For then how will God judge the world?

No, not at all! If it were wrong for God to punish us, how could He judge the world?

7 F or if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

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

8 W hy not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.

Why 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.

9 W hat then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin.

What 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.

10 A s it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.

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

11 T here is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.

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

12 T hey have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”

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

13 “ Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips”;

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

14 “ whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

Their mouths speak bad things against God. They say bad things about other people.

15 “ Their feet are swift to shed blood.

They are quick to hurt and kill people.

16 D estruction and misery are in their ways.

Wherever they go, they destroy and make people suffer.

17 T he way of peace, they haven’t known.”

They know nothing about peace.

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

They do not honor God with love and fear.”

19 N ow we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

Now 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.

20 B ecause by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

No person will be made right with God by doing what the Law says. The Law shows us how sinful we are.

21 B ut now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;

But 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.

22 e ven the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,

Men 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.

23 f or all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

For all men have sinned and have missed the shining-greatness of God.

24 b eing justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;

Anyone 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.

25 w hom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;

God 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.

26 t o demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

But 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.

27 W here then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

What 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.

28 W e maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

This 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.

29 O r is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

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

30 s ince indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.

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

31 D o we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.

Does 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.