International Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

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

1So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?

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

2Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God.

3What if some of the Jews were unfaithful? Their unfaithfulness cannot cancel God's faithfulness, can it?

3What then? If some were unfaithful, will their unfaithfulness nullify God's faithfulness?

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."

4Absolutely not! Let God be true, even though everyone is a liar, as it is written: That you may be justified in your words and triumph when you judge.

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 highlights God's righteousness, what are we to say? I am using a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?

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

6Absolutely not! Otherwise, how will 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 by my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I also still being judged 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 say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, "Let us do what is evil so that good may come"? Their condemnation is deserved!

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 any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin,

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

10as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.

11No one understands. No one searches for God.

11There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.

12All have turned away. They have become completely worthless. No one shows kindness, not even one person!

12All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.

13Their throats are open graves. With their tongues they deceive. The venom of poisonous snakes is under their lips.

13Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers' venom is under their lips.

14Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.

14Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

15They run swiftly to shed blood.

15Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16Ruin and misery characterize their lives.

16ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,

17They have not learned the path to peace.

17and the path of peace they have not known.

18They don't fear God.

18There 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 subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God's judgment.

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 no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.

21But now, apart from the Law, God's righteousness is revealed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets—

21But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets.

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 is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since 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,

24They are justified freely by his grace 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.

25God presented him as an atoning sacrifice in his blood, received through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.

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

26God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be righteous and declare righteous 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.

27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith.

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

28For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the 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 too? Yes, of Gentiles too,

30since there is only one God who will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised by that same faith.

30since there is one God 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 nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! 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.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.