New King James Version

English Standard Version

1What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?

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

2Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.

2Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

3For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?

3What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?

4Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”

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 demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)

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.)

6Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?

6By no means! For then how could God judge the world?

7For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?

7But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?

8And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.

8And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

9What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under 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: “There is none righteous, no, not one;

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

11There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.

11no one understands; no one seeks for God.

12They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”

12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

13“Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps 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.”

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

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

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16Destruction and misery are in their ways;

16in their paths are ruin and misery,

17And the way of peace they have not known.”

17and the way of peace they have not known.”

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

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

19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before 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 by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the 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 the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed 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—

22even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

25whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

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.

26to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in 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.

27Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law 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.

28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

28For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

29Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also,

29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,

30since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

30since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

31Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.